On October 8, Alvi's Encuentro de Socios 2024 took place, bringing together shopkeepers from the capital and various regions across the country. Attendees enjoyed a day filled with new developments and entertainment at Movistar Arena. The event attracted more than 7,000 shopkeeper members and 40 major companies that regularly supply their stores and the Horeca channel (hotels, restaurants, and cafes). Attendees had the opportunity to discover new products that could help increase profits, grow their businesses, and access exclusive promotions.

With over 120,000 shopkeepers buying monthly from Alvi, the chain has established itself as a key player in supplying traditional businesses, ranging from La Serena to Puerto Montt. Currently, it operates 35 stores, offering a comprehensive purchasing solution for its shopkeeper members.

"The aim of this event was to create a gathering for our Club Alvi Mayorista members, both from the Metropolitan Region and other parts of the country. This space allowed shopkeepers to connect with major brands supplying the traditional retail channel, discover new products, and explore business opportunities to help them grow and thrive, especially in a challenging economic environment. Attendees also learned more about innovation, security, logistics, payment methods, and financing—key areas for strengthening their businesses," said Francisco Gaete, Alvi's general manager.

The suppliers present at the event represented a broad range of traditional retail categories, including basic foods, groceries, confectionery, breakfast items, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, cleaning and personal care products, as well as Horeca products, cold cuts, dairy products, frozen goods, bakery, and pastry items. SMU’s private label brands also provided a complete offering to supply shopkeepers across Chile.

In addition to exploring new products and services, attendees participated in multiple raffles and contests organized by Alvi and its suppliers, with prizes like gift cards, sample products, and training sessions. Softys gave away $500,000 in products, while PF offered two visicoolers for store owners. Watts raffled off an electric tricycle, and Carozzi awarded a Caribbean trip for two, among other prizes. These activities made the Alvi Members' Meeting 2024 a comprehensive opportunity to strengthen traditional commerce and foster business growth. Additionally, there was a ceremony recognizing Alvi members for their sales and business achievements.

Ana Maritza Saavedra, a shopkeeper from Talagante and a nine-year Alvi member, shared her experience: "I used to take public transport with my cart and bags to buy, but now, thanks to my hard work, the prices I find, and my effort, I have my own car and can visit Alvi almost every day, where I find a variety of products, good prices, and friendly people. As shopkeepers, it obviously benefits us to buy in bulk at affordable and manageable prices, so we don't have to charge high prices to our customers."

Pancho Saavedra hosted the event at Movistar Arena, and to ensure a fun and enjoyable time, comedian Jorge Alis and the national band Santaferia closed the event, bringing laughter and great music to the audience.

Relaunch of Club Alvi and New Benefits for Members

The event also featured the relaunch of Club Alvi, now offering members a single platform with new features to further simplify the online shopping experience. The revamped app allows shopkeepers to make purchases from anywhere, access exclusive coupons, view the latest promotions and personalized discounts, and manage all the benefits Club Alvi offers.

The platform also allows users to view their purchase history, place advance orders, and receive real-time notifications of offers. With this update, Alvi aims to enhance the efficiency of its members' businesses by saving them time and providing a more intuitive and comprehensive tool for managing their purchases. This reinforces the company's commitment to innovation and supporting traditional commerce. Additionally, the "Boost Your Business" plan was introduced, allowing customers to participate in an acceleration fund to grow their businesses, which is set to launch later this year.

It is worth noting that Alvi is part of the "We Are Local Stores" initiative, a public-private alliance aimed at revitalizing and revaluing the economic, social, and public role of local neighborhood stores. This initiative began last year, led by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with private companies and local shopkeepers, who raised their concerns, resulting in a commitment to foster their growth.