Almacenes Ánfora plans Mérida debut with two stores

Almacenes Ánfora is preparing to enter Mérida, in the Mexican state of Yucatán, with two new branches as part of a strategy combining physical expansion and e-commerce. For the franchise sector, particularly food and drink businesses, the announcement is of interest because of the company's focus on serving hotels, restaurants and cafés.

Mérida: the next expansion destination

According to information published by Fast Company México on 29 September 2026, Almacenes Ánfora plans to establish two stores in Yucatán's capital. This would mark its entry into the city, although the available information does not specify addresses or opening dates.

The project would add to a network that, according to the same publication, currently comprises 35 branches across eight states. That figure reflects the company's reported existing footprint and should not be taken to include the two stores planned for Mérida.

The distinction between operating stores and planned projects matters to anyone tracking commercial expansion. In this case, the news concerns preparations to enter a new market: the information consulted provides no basis for describing the Yucatán stores as open to the public.

Nor are there details of the planned investment, store sizes or jobs associated with the openings. The confirmed scope of the announcement is therefore the intention to enter Mérida for the first time with two retail outlets.

Two openings reported in 2026

The Yucatán plan follows two openings reported by the company during 2026. One store is at 50 López Street in Mexico City, and the other is in the Zona Plateada district of Pachuca, in the state of Hidalgo.

Manuel Quintana Garay, managing director of Almacenes Ánfora, told the publication that the López Street store caters to hotels, restaurants and cafés. That focus creates a clear link with the purchasing needs of foodservice businesses, including franchise operators.

The Pachuca opening, meanwhile, brought the company's number of outlets in Hidalgo to four, according to Quintana Garay. This represents growth within a state where the company already had a presence, unlike its planned entry into Mérida.

These developments illustrate two aspects of its expansion: strengthening its position in established markets and preparing to enter a new city. The available information does not establish whether the future Mérida stores will adopt the same focus as the outlet at 50 López Street.

A physical network supported by e-commerce

Founded in 1940, Almacenes Ánfora retains its headquarters on López Street in Mexico City's historic centre. The company is combining its long retail history with the development of its e-commerce channel in Mexico.

The publication mentions a presence in Hidalgo, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Veracruz within a network spanning eight states. It does not provide a complete breakdown of branches by state beyond the figure of four outlets in Hidalgo.

The strategy described brings together physical stores, online sales and efforts to serve new customer segments. However, no sales figures by channel or performance comparisons are provided. Digital growth should therefore be understood as a reported area of activity for the company, rather than a quantified result.

What this means for the franchise sector

The relevance of this news to the franchise sector lies in the expansion of a company serving restaurants and cafés, among other customers. The research does not identify Almacenes Ánfora as a franchise network or indicate that the forthcoming stores will be developed under that model.

For a foodservice operator in Mérida, the announcement is a commercial development worth following, but it does not yet provide confirmed dates or terms on which to base purchasing plans. The practical takeaway is to verify that each store has opened, check its product range and confirm its terms of service before incorporating it into a sourcing plan.