Countries in Latam your company operates in: Argentina and Brazil

What are the most significant cases or transactions in the Latam region that you or your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most material and time-consuming local cases lately for DIA have been in relation to the global turnaround that the group is carrying out within its entire footprint, which includes Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina, since 2019, to consolidate and improve its business. This global turnaround includes revisiting all the existing foundations of the group with the aim of ensuring future sustainable growth and success of the business.

The unusual business environment created by the pandemic has been swiftly followed by the Ukraine crisis, attendant supply chain costs rising and inflation. Are you now putting more emphasis on preparing for the unforeseen and, if so, what does this entail?

DIA has not changed dramatically its way of working derived from any of the latest tragic events, taking very seriously the unforeseen when it comes to managing its business. We have no room to let down any of our customers with our decisions or lack of action as we provide for their essential needs, and we take this honor and responsibility very solemnly. To this extent, the aim in all that we do is to foresee and plan even what could be unforeseen. It is true though that even working with said aim, sometimes things in life follow no predictable plan or rules at all, such as the pandemic, the Ukraine invasion or inflation, changing drastically the market.

Nonetheless, even for those unforeseen situations, we have contingency plans and guidelines, along with prepared senior contingency teams that can take agile and organised decisions almost instantly to minimise any potential negative effects arising therefrom.

What are your organisations plans in the Latam region over the next 12 months and how will your legal expertise help to achieve these plans?

DIA has always seen the LATAM region as a core for its business and future growth. Accordingly, the group has invested significantly in its regional business in the past and intends to continue doing so in the future. This implies that, among others, the legal activity in LATAM of our group is currently, and expected to continue being, significant and absorbs a material number of resources, both at group and local levels.