U.S. Guatemala ATM

Daytime: Average High: 86° F for Guatemala City, Guatemala

Average Low: 60° F for Guatemala City, Guatemala

Time Change from Washington, DC: -1 Hour

Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD ~ 7.5 Quetzal

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Washington, D.C. contact information

Jake Fagliarone, Trade Missions and Shows, Jacob.Fagliarone@usda.gov, +1 202-913-4852

Annie Buckley, Trade Missions and Shows, anne.buckley@usda.gov, +1 202-570-5237

U.S. Embassy Guatemala City

Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City

Intercontinental Real Hotel

https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/guatemala-city/guaha/hoteldetail

14 Calle 2-51, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala

Attire: Business Casual

Morning Arrive in Guatemala City

6:00 pm Icebreaker Reception

Location: Restaurant Blu, Floor 5, Intercontinental, Guatemala City

Attire: Business

8:30 am Registration begins

9:00 am Welcome Plenary Session from U.S. Embassy Guatemala

Location: Ballroom Roble I, Floor 2, Intercontinental Guatemala City

9:30 am Group photo

Note: Plenary resumes immediately after group photo

9:40 am Plenary resumes

Speaker 1: Navigating the Northern Triangle: Macroeconomic Trends and

Food Industry Opportunities

10:35 am Coffee break

10:55 am Plenary resumes

Speaker 2: Tapping Into the Retail Sector in Guatemala: Challenges and

Opportunities for Imported Products

12:00 pm Plenary concludes

12:00 pm Lunch Buffet at Intercontinental Real

1:45 pm Delegation departs for Retail Tours to Paiz and La Torre

2:15 pm Paiz Retail Visit

Paiz: Paiz supermarket, owned by Walmart, is one of Guatemala’s most

well-known grocery chains. In 2005, Supermercados Paiz formed a

strategic alliance with Walmart, and by 2006, Walmart acquired a

51 percent stake. Today, Paiz operates under Walmart in Mexico

and Central America. As part of the Walmart brand, Paiz introduced its private label, Great Value, with most products

manufactured in the United States. The chain also imports a wide

range of U.S. products for sale in its stores.

Walmart has a significant presence in Guatemala, operating 265

stores nationwide. These include 27 Supertiendas Paiz, 10 Walmart

Supercenters, 183 Despensa Familiar locations, and 45 Maxi

Despensa stores. The company directly imports approximately 85

percent of its products, including produce, cereals, processed

foods, and beverages.

3:00 pm Depart for La Torre Supermarket

La Torre: La Torre, owned by Unisuper Corporation, is a leading

supermarket chain in Guatemala. With 75 years of experience, it

remains a dominant player in the market despite competition from

international retailers like Walmart and other local chains.

Unisuper has built a loyal customer base by prioritizing quality and

adapting to consumer needs. Unlike larger chains that focus on

hypermarkets and budget pricing, Unisuper offers large

supermarkets and smaller urban stores for added convenience.

Unisuper stores offer over 100 imported products from the United

States. Recently, La Torre introduced its private-label brand,

Essentials Everyday, manufactured in the U.S., featuring cooking

oils, cleaning products, cereals, dairy, and bakery items. Unisuper

currently operates 211 stores across in Guatemala under three

brands: La Torre (113 locations), Torre Express (91 locations), and

Econosuper (7 locations).

3:25 pm La Torre Supermarket Visit

4:15 pm Return to Intercontinental Real

7:00 pm Agribusiness Trade Mission Welcome Reception

Location: Roble I and II, Floor 2, Intercontinental Real

9:00 pm Reception concludes

Attire: Business

9:00 am Business-to-Business Meetings

Location:

12:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm Business-to-Business Meetings

Location: Grand Ballroom 1, Intercontinental Saigon

5:00 pm Business-to-Business conclude

Attire: Business

9:00 am Business-to-Business Meetings

Location:

12:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm Business-to-Business Meetings

Location: Grand Ballroom 1, Intercontinental Saigon

5:00 pm Business-to-Business conclude

Attire: Business casual, dress for warm weather with comfortable shoes.

Note: We will be walking short distances (up to 10 minutes) in Antigua. If you would prefer to be

transported via car/bus, please let us know.

8:00 am Depart Intercontinental for the National Museum of Guatemala, Antigua

(MUNAG)

10:00 am Museum Tour: MUNAG

Description: MUNAG is located in Antigua, Guatemala, a UNESCO World

Heritage Site. The palace, the political and military headquarters of

Spanish rule in Central America from 1543 to 1776, has been

preserved to maintain its original structure while incorporating

removable installations to display art and artifacts. The museum’s

collection is organized into three historical periods, Pre-Hispanic,

Colonial, and Republican, and is being developed in two phases

focused on artifact recovery and restoration.

In addition to its exhibitions, the museum retains key areas of the

former royal palace, including royal chambers, administrative

offices, military barracks, horse stables, the treasury, and a former

torture chamber. These preserved spaces provide insight into the

historical functions of the building and Guatemala’s colonial past.

MUNAG is a cultural and historical institution offering visitors a

comprehensive view of Guatemala’s history through its artifacts,

restored architecture, and educational exhibits. It plays a role in

preserving national heritage and fostering an understanding of the

country’s historical development.

11:30 am Museum Tour concludes

11:30 am Casa Popenoe Tour

Description: Casa Popenoe, owned and maintained by Francisco Marroquín

University, is recognized as the first colonial-style house restored

using archaeological principles. This historic home represents the

deep connection that British archaeologist and botanist Dorothy

Hughes and her American husband, F. Wilson Popenoe, had with

Central America.

Wilson Popenoe, renowned for his research on tropical and

subtropical fruits, played a key role in introducing and propagating

the Guatemalan avocado in the United States. In 1914, Popenoe

began working for the USDA as an agricultural explorer and

researcher. In the early 20th century, he traveled extensively

through Central America, particularly Guatemala, searching for

superior plant varieties. Recognizing the potential of Guatemalan

avocados, he carefully selected and introduced high-quality Hass

and Fuerte varieties to the United States, laying the foundation for

the country’s commercial avocado industry. His work helped

establish avocado cultivation in the United States and strengthened

agricultural ties between the two nations.

The Popenoes acquired the house in 1929 and spent five years

restoring it to a livable condition. Historical records show that the

original structure dates to between 1632 and 1762. By the time the

Popenoes took ownership, the house was in a state of near ruin

after years of neglect. Their restoration preserved the architectural heritage of the property, transforming it into a significant historical landmark.

12:00 pm Tour Concludes

12:20 pm Closing lunch reception and cultural performance

Location: Las Ruinas Convento Santa Clara

3:00 pm Lunch concludes; sightseeing in Antigua

4:20 pm Board bus back to Guatemala City

4:30 pm Bus departs to Guatemala City

6:30 pm Bus arrives to Guatemala City