Wave of closures at a supermarket chain: more than 100 employees affected in three provinces

The Vea supermarket chain, one of the flagship brands of the Cencosud group, which also controls Jumbo, Disco, and Easy, recently closed four branches across Buenos Aires, Catamarca, and San Juan. The measure left more than 100 employees without regular work.

The affected stores are located in San Martín (Catamarca), Castelar y Moreno (Buenos Aires), and Villa Krause (San Juan) . In all cases, the stores were notified of their sudden closure, generating uncertainty among workers. Some sources indicated that the company offered relocations or compensation , although Cencosud has not provided official details.

The Castelar case is the most significant in terms of its impact on workers. The branch had 80 employees , representing a substantial portion of the total affected. The closure took workers by surprise and generated concern in the community.

Vea Supermarket

In Catamarca , the closed branch was located on San Martín Avenue. Although the exact number of people who lost their jobs was not disclosed, local sources confirmed that all employees were laid off . The measure sparked a reaction from industry unions, which are already monitoring possible similar cases in other provinces.

In San Juan , the closure of the Villa Krause location affected 17 employees , some of whom were reportedly offered the possibility of relocation within the group. The Moreno branch, in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, was also laid off, although it was not confirmed how many workers were left without jobs there.

Cencosud declined to comment on the measure or publicly explain the reasons behind the closures . However, various sources point to two key factors : a general restructuring due to declining sales and a possible participation in the acquisition of Carrefour Argentina , which would require the group to achieve greater operational efficiency and financial consolidation.

The country's consumer outlook shows no signs of relief: fewer visits to supermarkets and a sharp decline in spending on basic products , forcing chains to review their structure and prioritize profitability. Furthermore, closed stores in several cases showed low levels of performance or overlapped with other branches in the group.

Meanwhile, affected workers are navigating an uncertain future. Some are considering relocation proposals , while others are forced to manage severance pay or look for new jobs in an increasingly challenging market.