ABSTRACT
Supermarket chains in Ecuador have increased their retail market share in the last six years and almost doubled the number of outlets. There are several groups of small-scale farmers in Ecuador that supply dairy products to supermarkets. The Salinas Group, for example, is an association of farmers producing and selling processed cheese and other dairy products to supermarkets and other retail stores. Supermarket chains in Ecuador use their lists of preferred suppliers as their first source of products. Groups of organized farmers, with assistance from NGOs, have reached agreements to supply chains like Supermercados La Favorita (SLF). The only way to ensure the inclusion of small-scale farmers in this growing supermarket sector is to work closely with retail chains. It is encouraging to see SLF's willingness to communicate and cooperate. The interest, knowledge, and contact with experts also contribute to this communication and the search for solutions.
