As a preview to his presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on Juan Francisco España and EPA home centers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela. 

Headquartered in Valencia, Venezuela, EPA is a large hardware store chain, offering solutions for projects related to construction, decoration and remodeling.  EPA stocks a wide assortment of over 18,000 products and prides itself on providing excellent service at unbeatable prices.  Founded in 1992, EPA has expanded to 25 stores throughout Central America with locations in Guatemala (2), Costa Rica (5), El Salvador (2) and Venezuela (16), where the combined GDP of is over $536 B. 

Although end-consumer pricing is key to EPA, the retailer believes in establishing strong supplier relationships and focuses their buying on quality products that offer variety and choice to their customers.  With a twenty-year tenure at EPA, Juan Francisco España, CEO, will discuss the opportunities and challenges of working within these Latin American markets.  Within his various role at EPA, as a head buyer, purchasing manager, sales manager and then country manager prior to becoming CEO, Juan Francisco has a vast array of pragmatic knowledge of the successes of EPA.  He will focus his presentation on how EPA looks for new product lines and what the retailer expects from suppliers looking to export to this network of hardware stores.

The 2017 IBC Global Forum takes place in Miami from September 17-19.  Additional information and registration details are available online.