Daiso enters Mexico with two stores in the capital region

Japan’s Daiso entered Mexico in September 2026 with its first two stores in Mexico City and the surrounding metropolitan area, according to a report published by Diario Financiero on 28 September. Its arrival adds a new brand to the market for homeware, accessories and everyday goods — a retail format whose expansion warrants attention from those involved in Mexico’s franchise sector.

Two openings launch its presence in Mexico

In August, Daiso announced that its first two Mexican stores would open simultaneously during September. The report places the stores in the capital and its metropolitan area, but does not provide their addresses or figures for investment, retail floor space or jobs created by the launch.

The move adds Mexico to the Japanese company’s Latin American footprint. Before this launch, Brazil was its largest operation in the region: as of February 2026, Daiso had 185 stores there, accounting for its entire South American operation at that point.

The Mexican launch should be understood as the start of operations, rather than an already established national network. The available information confirms the first two openings, but sets out neither a subsequent timetable for other Mexican cities nor a target store count for the country.

An entry backed by an international network

The Mexican operation joins a brand with an extensive international presence. As of February 2026, Daiso operated approximately 1,107 stores outside Japan across 25 countries and territories, according to the figures reported by Diario Financiero.

When announcing its entry into Mexico, the company said it would continue to focus on international expansion and accelerate store openings in new countries and regions. That statement provides context for the Mexican openings, but does not amount to a specific commitment on the pace of local growth.

The dates of the figures also matter: the international network size and the Brazilian store count refer to February, while the Mexican launch took place in September. These are useful indicators of the company’s scale, but do not represent a snapshot of all its operations at the same point in time.

The regional growth of multi-category retailers

Daiso’s entry comes as Asian variety stores expand across the region. This format brings together categories such as homeware, accessories, toys, beauty products and stationery in a single retail space.

Miniso provides a benchmark for the scale these concepts have reached in Latin America. As of June 2026, the Chinese-origin chain with Japanese-inspired design had 726 stores in the region, compared with 661 in the same month a year earlier — an increase of 65 stores in twelve months.

Latin America was therefore its second-largest international market by store count, behind Asia excluding China and ahead of North America and Europe. Mexico is among the Latin American countries where Miniso operates, although the report does not specify how many of those 726 stores are in Mexico.

Mumuso’s presence in Mexico provides another example of the format. Founded in Shanghai in 2014, the company sells products across categories including beauty, homeware and accessories. These examples place Daiso’s arrival within a regional trend, without attributing international network figures to Mexico alone.

What the franchise sector should watch

For the franchise sector, the news is relevant as a sign of new retail concepts entering the market, but an important distinction is needed: the reporting does not establish whether Daiso’s first Mexican stores operate as franchises. Nor does it mention franchisee recruitment, initial franchise fees or investment requirements.

Store openings should therefore not be confused with an available franchise opportunity. Anyone assessing this type of business should first verify the operating model, territorial development rights and the existence of a formal franchise offering directly with the company before considering any investment.

Practical takeaway: Daiso’s first two stores provide a new business to watch in Mexico. Prospective investors should distinguish confirmed retail expansion from any assumptions about franchising that have yet to be substantiated.