PriceSmart


PriceSmart, Inc. is a United States based operator of membership warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. PriceSmart was founded by Sol and Robert Price, founders of Price Club; Robert Price is chairman of the board.

Warehouse clubs

The following table lists the warehouse clubs owned and operated currently by PriceSmart:
CountryNo. of stores
Aruba1
Barbados1
Colombia10
Costa Rica9
Dominican Republic5
El Salvador4
Guatemala7
Honduras3
Jamaica2
Nicaragua2
Panama7
Trinidad and Tobago4
U.S. Virgin Islands1

Key dates

YearEvents
1976Price Club founded by Sol and Robert Price
1993The Price Co. and Costco Wholesale Club merge, forming Price/Costco Inc
1994Price Enterprises Inc spun off from Price/Costco
Robert Price named chairman, president and CEO of Price Enterprises
PriceSmart operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Price Enterprises
1995Licensees open two club stores
1996PriceSmart opens its first club store
Licensees open one club store
1997PriceSmart opens its second club store
Licensees open two club stores
Price Enterprises Inc separates itself from PriceSmart by spinning off all non-real estate assets to PriceSmart
PriceSmart completes IPO and begins trading as PSMT on NASDAQ stock exchange
Gilbert A. Partida appointed president and CEO
1998Licensees open two club stores
Licensee stores in Guam and Philippines close
Licensee arrangement with operator of Indonesian club stores terminated
1999PriceSmart opens seven club stores
Licensees open two club stores
2000PriceSmart opens eight club stores
Licensees open one club store
PSMT Philippines created as a joint venture with S&R Membership Shopping, with PriceSmart holding 60% ownership
2001PriceSmart opens seven club stores
Licensees open three club stores
2002PriceSmart opens three club stores
PriceSmart starts wholesale phone card sales program
Licensees open two club stores
PSMT Mexico created as joint venture with Grupo Gigante, with PriceSmart holding 50% ownership
PSMT Mexico opens two club stores in Mexico
2003PriceSmart opens two club stores
PriceSmart closes four club stores
PriceSmart terminates wholesale phone card sales program
PSMT Mexico opens one club store
Licensees open two club stores
Gilbert A. Partida resigns as president and CEO, Robert E. Price assumes role of interim president and CEO
PriceSmart announces it will restate financial results for 2002 and 2003.
2004PriceSmart opens one club store
Licensees close two club stores
2005PriceSmart opens one club store
PSMT Mexico closes its three stores in Mexico
Company sells its interest in PSMT Philippines to E-Class Corporation, one of PSMT Philippines' minority shareholders
Licensee arrangement with operator of Chinese club stores terminated
2006PriceSmart relocates San Pedro Sula, Honduras club store
PriceSmart added to Russell 2000 stock index
2007PriceSmart opens two club stores
PriceSmart sells its interest in PSMT Mexico to Grupo Gigante
2009PriceSmart opens one club store
Ranked #55 on Fortune Magazine's list of 100 fastest growing companies
2011PriceSmart opens one club store
2012PriceSmart opens one club store
2013PriceSmart opens two club stores
2014PriceSmart opens three club stores
2015PriceSmart opens one club store
2016PriceSmart opens one club store
2018PriceSmart acquires Aeropost.com
PriceSmart opens one club store
2019PriceSmart opens three club stores
2020PriceSmart opens two club stores
2021PriceSmart opens two club stores
2022PriceSmart opens one club store Sherry Bahrambeygui removed from PriceSmart
Pricemart sells Aeropost.com
2023John Hildebrandt named COO
PriceSmart opens three club stores
2024PriceSmart opens one club store
2025PriceSmart opens two club stores