Leading Mexican department store chain Coppel acquired an ownership position within the regional home improvement retailer Hágalo Home Center, forging an alliance between the two companies, the company reported.  Hágalo is a key player in the hardware and DIY markets in the northern state of Chihuahua, operating 13 stores in the border city of Ciudad Juárez and three in the city of Chihuahua.  Coppel's announcement of the partnership states that the company's objective is to extend the availability of Hágalo's products throughout the country.  A strategy to build out Hágalo's store footprint to other states represents a potential new competitor for DIY leader Home Depot and rising player Sodimac.

Read Coppel's original announcement (in Spanish) of the deal here