Pre Wash with Acetic acid can control back staining specially in the case of Turquoise Color.

SUBJ-14:

Pre Wash with Acetic acid can control back staining specially in the case of Turquoise Color.

Chemicals:

Acetic Acid (Conc), Sodium Alginate, Soap (Polyglycolether, Nonionic).

Process:

Purpose is to control back staining during washing in reactive printing. Some red and all turquoise bleed a lot during washing. Washing fastness like ISO 105 CO3 and 105 CO6/C2S also shows that turquoise are have very poor fastness, Any way in this post we are only concerning about the reacting after washing off of freshly printed fabric. We are not concerned with any kind of fastness like washing, Perspiration and Dipping etc.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Mild. Oxidizing agent                10  g/Kg

Urea                                        100g/Kg

Sodium Bicarbonate                 25g/Kg

Alginate Thickener                   25g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Dye Glass:

Dye                                         50g/Kg

Stock paste                              Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Process:

Print and dry at 110-120°C for 1Min.

Cure at 200C for 1 Min

Prewash

With and Without Acetic Acid

            With..................Without...............

Pakistan asks India to keep up promise of cotton export

With Pakistan reeling from the after-effects of floods, its textile mill sector has appealed to India to honour the commitments for dispatching raw cotton, in letter and in spirit.

After floods devastated large tracts of farm land, cotton production in Pakistan was affected along with other major crops. In such a situation, Pakistani textile mills not only require the contracted amount of cotton from India, but a liberal gesture in the form of additional raw cotton as well.

Addressing a press conference here, All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association vice chairman Shahzad Ali Khan pointed out that India exported only one lakh bales out of the contracted quantity of 10 lakh bales. What the industry needed was not just the entire contracted amount, but an additional quantity. India had so far exported about 30 lakh bales of cotton to other countries and was in a position to assist the Pakistani textile industry.

Urging India to “help a neighbour,” Mr. Khan expressed the hope that the remaining quantity of nine lakh bales would be shipped at the earliest. Pakistan faces a severe supply crunch on the raw cotton front due to floods in parts of cotton growing areas in the country. Pakistan lost about 25 lakh bales of cotton and faces an overall deficit of 40 lakh bales.

The Pakistan Textile Mills Association, he said, had already submitted a request in this regard to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. A similar plea has been lodged with the Pakistan High Commission with the hope that it would be followed up with the Indian industry and the government. Desperate for succour from India, the Pakistani textile industry has also taken up the issue with the cotton exporters in Mumbai.

Source:

INDIAN NEWSPAPER THE HINDU

Discharge Printing on direct dyed fabric with Potassium permanganate(KMnO4).

SUBJ-13:

Discharge Printing on direct dyed fabric with Potassium permanganate(KMnO4).

Chemicals:

Potassium permanganate (Oxidizing agent), Sodium bisulfite (Reducing agent), Acetic Acid (Conc), Special Thickener (inorganic compound based on silicate), Soap (Polyglycolether, Nonionic).

Process:

Purpose is to discharge all direct dyed substrate through Oxidation reaction of Potassium permanganate in acidic pH and than Reduction through Sodium Bisulfite again in acid pH. than finally soaping.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Special Thickerner                35g/Kg

Potassium permanganate         40g/Kg

Acetic Acid                             10g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Processing Steps Involved:

¯  Print and Dry at 100-120C.

¯  Washing off in a reduction for fifteen minutes at 70C, bath containing

1.      Sodium Bisulfite         10g/L

2.      Acetic Acid                 0.5g/L

Wash for 10Min at 70C with Soap (Polyglycolether, Nonionic).

¯  Rinse Warm and Cold.

Remarks by:

Direct dyes have been used for quite long time for dyeing cellulosic fabric. These dyed fabric can be easily discharged through Sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (commonly called Rangolit C) or this can also be done through Potassium permanganate, Results are quite fine. Whole process is in front of you.

Testing and recommending commercial chemicals for controlling back staining in reactive printing washing and wash down effects of Denim ( Enzyme Wash, Stone Wash, Moon Wash)..

SUBJ-12:

Testing and recommending commercial chemicals for controlling back staining in reactive printing washing and wash down effects of Denim ( Enzyme Wash, Stone Wash, Moon Wash)..

Chemicals:

Dye( Tuquoise was taken for experiment as it is famous for a lot of back staining), Stock paste (Containing Urea, Bicarbonate, Mild oxidizing agent ), Hydrogen per oxide 35%, Soda ash, Routing soap for reactive washing(generally acrylic acids).

Purpose:

Back staining is quite a famous issue among printers as it stains white area and minimizes contrast effect and eventually compromising the added value. This is not only the issure for reactive printers but also for Denim industry, Who are busy in dyeing warp yarn of denim and leaving white weft and weaving style ending up with eye catching effect of jean. Now days, Different washes are very famous for carrying out different effects like Stone Wash, Enzyme wash and Moon Wash. When these washes are done dye is released from the warp yarn into liquor (containing some enzyme, acetic acid for maintaining appropriate Ph) these dyes bounce back towards fabric and stick to weft yarn so, again less contrast between warp and weft. New tint of  blue from weft also fade down the actual Denim concept.  So, what can be added to over washing recipe to control this issue.

With out H2O2...   With H2O2...  

Sulfuric Acid ...King of Chemicals

Laboratory hazards

The corrosive properties of sulfuric acid are accentuated by its highly exothermic reaction with water. Burns from sulfuric acid are potentially more serious than those of comparable strong acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid), as there is additional tissue damage due to dehydration and particularly secondary thermal damage due to the heat liberated by the reaction with water.

The danger is greater with more concentrated preparations of sulfuric acid, but even the normal laboratory "dilute" grade (approximately 1 M, 10%) will char paper by dehydration if left in contact for a sufficient time. Therefore, solutions equal to or stronger than 1.5 M are labeled "CORROSIVE", while solutions greater than 0.5 M but less than 1.5 M are labeled "IRRITANT". Fuming sulfuric acid (oleum) is not recommended for use in schools as it is quite hazardous.

The standard first aid treatment for acid spills on the skin is, as for other corrosive agents, irrigation with large quantities of water. Washing is continued for at least ten to fifteen minutes to cool the tissue surrounding the acid burn and to prevent secondary damage. Contaminated clothing is removed immediately and the underlying skin washed thoroughly.

Preparation of the diluted acid can also be dangerous due to the heat released in the dilution process. The concentrated acid is always added to water and not the other way round, to take advantage of the relatively high heat capacity of water. Addition of water to concentrated sulfuric acid leads to the dispersal of a sulfuric acid aerosol or worse, an explosion. Preparation of solutions greater than 6 M (35%) in concentration is most dangerous, as the heat produced may be sufficient to boil the diluted acid: efficient mechanical stirring and external cooling (such as an ice bath) are essential.

On a laboratory scale, sulfuric acid can be diluted by pouring concentrated acid onto crushed ice made from de-ionized water. The ice melts in an endothermic process while dissolving the acid. The amount of heat needed to melt the ice in this process is greater than the amount of heat evolved by dissolving the acid so the solution remains cold. After all the ice has melted, further dilution can take place using water.

Source:

Wikipedia.org

The Textile Industry in Canada: Focus on Technical and Other Value Added Textiles

e Canadian textile industry has lost much of its competitiveness since the global elimination of quotas at the end of 2004, particularly in mass markets. Between 2005 and 2009 total factory sales by textile mills and textile product mills fell by 44% while sales by the clothing manufacturing industry dropped by 50%.

The textile industry has faced a number of challenges, including: competition from developing countries; offshore manufacturing by its traditional main customer, the clothing industry; availability, retention and training of the workforce; the strength of the Canadian dollar; trade regulation; capital availability; and access to specialised markets.

By 2006 it was apparent that the industry needed to diversify into specialised materials such as technical usage textiles (TUTs) and other value added textiles (OVATs). By targeting TUTs and OVATs the industry would be better able to meet, and stimulate, customer demand for products which met special requirements and offered heightened performance.

To ensure widespread adoption of this strategy, it was proposed that the strengths of the entire value chain be focused on TUTs or OVATs. This was to be achieved through: the utilisation of scientific and technical resources; the implementation of dynamic research and development cooperation platforms; innovation; commercialisation; and business networking.

The aim of this initiative is to help the industry to compete in the international market place and develop a critical mass. Consequently, its image will improve in the eyes of the public, the business community and the financial community, and the industry will be taken more seriously when major public and private clients are structuring their projects.

The initiative has already achieved some success. Between March 2007 and June 2009 the number of companies involved in technical and other value-added textiles rose from 241 to about 400, and in mid-2010 it was estimated that this figure had been more or less maintained.


Source:
http://www.just-style.com/market-research/the-textile-industry-in-canada-focus-on-technical-and-other-value-added-textiles_id98227.aspx?lk=ud79

Burn out printing on Blend PC (Polyester/Cotton ).

SUBJ-11:

Burn out printing on Blend PC (Polyester/Cotton ).

 Chemicals:

Synthetic Thickener, Sodium Bisulfate, Penetrating Agent, Glycerin and Water.

Purpose:

Burnout is a beautiful effect, Which is carried out on blend fabric and specially for those blends which have high percentage of cotton and are reserved dyed (mean polyester portion is either dyed or printed), when cotton burns down dyed polyester gives full shade and vacant spaces. One can literally see across this type of effect.

One can take simple white fabric, blend of course. Dye or print it with disperse dye in acidic medium than apply burn out recipe afterwards go for reduction cleaning which is required for polyester. This cleaning will also wash down burned cotton.

Cotton can be chemically burnt out at 200C in presence of Sodium bisulfate (other chemicals were also tested in order to substitute sodium bi sulfate , which is discussed in later portion)

As a big house Masood textile on its website expresses.

Preview this picture on large scale

Denim Discharge or Jeam Discharge

SUBJ-10:

Indigo Discharge, Vat Discharge, Denim Discharge or Jeam Discharge all in one.

Chemicals:

Potassium permanganate (Oxidizing agent), Sodium bisulfite (Reducing agent), Acetic Acid (Conc), Special Thickener, Soap (Polyglycolether, Nonionic).

Process:

Purpose is to discharge Blue or Black color Denim through Oxidation reaction of Potassium permanganate in acidic pH and than Reduction through Sodium Bisulfite again in acid pH. Finally soaping.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Special Thickerner                35g/Kg

Potassium permanganate         40g/Kg

Acetic Acid                             10g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Processing Steps Involved:

¯  Print and Dry at 100-120C.

¯  Washing off in a reduction for fifteen minutes at 70C, bath containing

1.      Sodium Bisulfite         10g/L

2.      Acetic Acid                 0.5g/L

Wash for 10Min at 70C with Soap (Polyglycolether, Nonionic).

¯  Rinse Warm and Cold.

Remarks:

This will clearly give you good discharge result. I will try to upload photo effects of these discharges. I also tried some other temperatures for drying which was 150 and 180C but, results were not  too good (mean no big change). One can try other oxidizing agent and reducing agent like sodium pryrosulfite (Sodium meta bisulfite), Sodium Hydro sulfite.

Please Note  Thickeners (Including both natural, Synthetic) are not compatible with potassium per manganate and acetic acid. They form jelly and heat is evolved during stirring. So, special thickeners are need for this kind of process. That’s why I used word “Special Thickener”. Still need to look for the chemistry of this special Thickener. If  you are familiar with the chemistry of Special thickener. Comments are welcomed.

India to oppose EU for granting duty-free access to Pak textiles

As European Union has granted a duty-free access to Pakistan’s textile products with an intention to help the country recover from the effects of massive floods, India is likely to stand against this decision for the reason that, it may make India’s exports to EU uncompetitive.

As this preferential treatment comes into effect from January 2011, several textile items from Pakistan would enjoy duty-free access to all the 27 countries of the EU for the next three years.

Granting of such duty-free access to a particular country is very much opposed to the WTO’s principle of the General Most Favoured Nation Treatment, and thus India is likely to oppose the same.

Though, some of the authorities are of the view that, India’s opposition may not prove to be substantial, because WTO does not have any significant laws or rules to stop any of its members from granting such preferential tariffs, and more so because EU has revealed its intent to solicit relevant waivers.

Further, the WTO is not authorized to interfere in any such matter unless a country implements a measure, like the one involving an import quota, wherein imports from some countries would be allowed while imports from other countries would be restricted.

The only option left with India is to speed up the process of finalizing its preferential trade agreement with EU, so that it too can enjoy duty-free access there.

EU initiated autonomous trade preferences for Pakistan in October on an emergency basis so as to help the country to restore from effects of massive floods in earlier part of the year. It thus granted duty-free access to 75 items from Pakistan, of which 64 were textile items, having an overall import value of around €900 million.

The decision is seen to adversely influence India’s textile export to EU, as Indian products would continue to bear the burden of import duty of around 6 to 12 percent. India exported $5.9 billion worth of textiles to EU in 2009, and Pakistan’s export during the same year stood at $2.2 billion.


source:  http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=93073

Studying effect of Salt on the shade.

SUBJ-7:

Studying effect of Salt on the shade.

Chemicals:

Dye, Glauber salt Na2S04. Stock Paste.

Purpose of Salt in Recipe:

Some time a little amount of salt can raise strength to 10%. So, consequently decreasing dye concentration.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Mild. Oxidizing agent             10  g/Kg

Urea                                        100g/Kg

Sodium Bicarbonate               25g/Kg

Alginate Thickener                  25g/Kg

Glauber Salt`                         X g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Dye Glass:

Reactive Red Dye (MCT)       30  g/Kg

Stock paste                              Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Options:

Printing three fabrics with  different pastes as per follow.

1. Glauber Salt  in stock paste 0g/Kg (Recommended as Standard)

2. Glauber Salt in stock paste 5g/Kg

3. Glauber Salt in stock paste 10g/Kg

4. Glauber Salt in stock paste 15g/Kg

5. Glauber Salt in stock paste 20g/Kg

A bit Know How About Tetrachloroethylene....Dry Cleaning Agent

Dry Cleaning

Tetrachloroethylene, also known under its systematic name tetrachloroethene and many other names, is a chlorocarbon with the formula Cl2C=CCl2. It is a colourless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics, hence it is sometimes called "dry-cleaning fluid." It has a sweet odor detectable by most people at a concentration of 1 part per million (1 ppm). It finds its abundance use in textile. Textile Laboratory normally uses two gallons per month for testing purposes. International organization for standardization also advises its use in its standard for textile testing in ISO 105 DO1

Health and safety
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tetrachloroethene as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means that it is probably carcinogenic to humans.Like many chlorinated hydrocarbons, tetrachloroethene is a central nervous system depressant and can enter the body through respiratory or dermal exposure. Tetrachloroethene dissolves fats from the skin, potentially resulting in skin irritation.
Animal studies and a study of 99 twins by Dr. Samuel Goldman and researchers at the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, California determined there is a "lot of circumstantial evidence" that exposure to Tetrachloroethlene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease ninefold. Larger population studies are planned

Testing for exposure
Tetrachloroethene exposure can be evaluated by a breath test, analogous to breath-alcohol measurements. Because it is stored in the body's fat and slowly released into the bloodstream, tetrachloroethene can be detected in the breath for weeks following a heavy exposure. Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a breakdown product of tetrachloroethene, can be detected in the blood.

Conclusion

Proper handling and safety equipment (Masks, Gloves etc) should be utilized during performing test containing dry cleaning agent Tetrachloroethylene. 

Effect of Urea on shade of fabric, when everything in recipe is one to one.

SUBJ-8:

Effect of Urea on shade of fabric, when everything in recipe is one to one.

Chemicals:

Dye, Stock paste with varying concentration of  Urea.

Purpose of UREA:

UREA is hygroscopic agent and absorb water from surrounding during fixation and also help in get level shade.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Mild. Oxidizing agent             10  g/Kg

Urea                                        Xg/Kg

Sodium Bicarbonate               25g/Kg

Alginate Thickener                  25g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Dye Glass:

Dye                                         50  g/Kg

Stock paste                              Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Options:

Printing three fabrics with  different pastes as per follow.

1. UREA in stock paste 80g/Kg
2. UREA in stock paste 100g/Kg (Recommended as Standard)
3. UREA in stock paste 120g/Kg

Process:

Print and dry at 100-110°C.

Treat with Saturated steam at 102°C for 8 min

Washing:

§     Cold rinse

§     Soap at 60^oC With:

                        1-2 ml/l of Ladipur RSK liq.

§     Hot Rinse

§     Cold Rinse

Result:

Name                                   CMC                    STRENGTH

Urea 80g/Kg                                       STD                             STD

Urea 100g/Kg                                     0.23                             102

Urea 120g/Kg                                     0.42                             98

Remarks by AC:

Alternation of UREA specifically does not play critical role in fixation mode if steaming is done properly. Some shades like turquoise need more as much as twice amount of urea.. Urea is also used in pigment printing for limiting formaldehyde contents present in binder and fixing agents.

Studying effect of bicarbonate concentration on reactive printing.

SUBJ-9:

Studying effect of bicarbonate concentration on reactive printing.

Chemicals:

Dye, Stock paste with varying concentration of Bicarbonate.

Purpose of Bicarbonate:

Sodium bicarbonate is mild alkali which provide fixation condition to the dye and substrate when fabric undergoes steaming mode.

Recipe:

Stock paste:

Mild. Oxidizing agent                10  g/Kg

Urea                                        100g/Kg

Sodium Bicarbonate                 X  g/Kg

Alginate Thickener                   25 g/Kg

Water                                      Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Dye Glass:

Dye                                         50  g/Kg

Stock paste                              Balance

Total                                       1 Kg

Options:

Printing two fabrics with two different pastes one containing 20g/Kg Bicarbonate and Other containing 25g/Kg(Recommended as Standard).

Process:

Print and dry at 100-110°C.

Treat with Saturated steam  at 102°C for 8 min

Washing:

§     Cold rinse

§     Soap at 60^oC With:

                        1-2 ml/l of Ladipur RSK liq.

§     Hot Rinse

§     Cold Rinse

Result:

Name                                  CMC                    STRENGTH

Sodium Bicarbonate(std)                    STD                             STD

25g/Kg

Sodium Bicarbonate                           0.87(WARN)              93.41

20g/Kg

Remarks by AC:

With decrease of fixing agent like bicarbonate, can decrease overall strength which is like 7 to 8%, as CMC data color report is clearly showing.

Using Screens for different concentration of same dye

Hey, why not to use the same screen for the same dye (say yellow) for two concentrations like 0.3% and 3%

What if I use 0.3% concentration yellow shade and print fabric first and than reuse the same screen for printing 3% shade of same dye without washing...OH ECO Friendly GUY..... by the way saving money...haan!

so, lets start. So, what you did. First you printed all your fabric with low concentration of dye 0.3% and when you ended up you than go for 3% so, whats the big deal?

Result oriented Approach
(so, what actually data color is telling)
CMC: RANGE 0.33 TO 0.60 PASS (NOT BAD REALLY, APPRECIATED WORK)

Strength Difference: Range 5 To 8%
(Ops, So, here you have to put 5% extra on your dye, so ECO FRIENDLY now its up to you....Go for it.) See you.

Revising Chemistry

POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (PVOH, PVA, or PVAL) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer. Polyvinyl alcohol has excellent film forming, emulsifying, and adhesive properties. It is also resistant to oil, grease andsolvent. It is odorless and nontoxic. It has high tensile strength and flexibility, as well as high oxygen and aroma barrier properties. However these properties are dependent on humidity, in other words, with higher humidity more water is absorbed. The water, which acts as a plasticiser, will then reduce its tensile strength, but increase its elongation and tear strength. PVA is fully degradable and is a quick dissolver. PVA has a melting point of 230°C and 180–190°C for the fully hydrolysed and partially hydrolysed grades, respectively. It decomposes rapidly above 200°C as it can undergo pyrolysisat high temperatures. PVA is an atactic material but exhibits crystallinity as the hydroxyl groups are small enough to fit into the lattice without disrupting it. ACETATE An acetate (IUPAC name: ethanoate) is either a salt or an ester of acetic acid. Its formula is written both as CH3CO2− and C2H3O2−. Chemists abbreviate acetate as OAc− and AcO−. Thus HOAc is the abbreviation for acetic acid, NaOAc for sodium acetate, and EtOAc for ethyl acetate.[1] Acetate is a common anion in biology. HYDROLYSIS Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which molecules of water (H2O) are split into hydrogen cations (H+) (conventionally referred to as protons) and hydroxideanions (OH−) in the process of a chemical mechanism.[1][2] It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by step-growth polymerization. Such polymer degradation is usually catalysed by either acid, e.g., concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), or alkali, e.g., sodium hydroxide(NaOH) attack, often increasing with their strength or pH. Hydrolysis is a chemical process in which a certain molecule is split into two parts by the addition of a molecule of water. One fragment of the parent molecule gains a hydrogen ion (H+) from the additional water molecule. The other group collects the remaining hydroxyl group (OH−). The most common hydrolysis occurs when a salt of a weak acid or weak base (or both) is dissolved in water. Water autoionizes into negative hydroxyl ions and positive hydrogen ions. The salt breaks down into positive and negative ions. For example, sodium acetate dissociates in water into sodium and acetate ions. Sodium ions react very little with hydroxyl ions whereas acetate ions combine with hydrogen ions to produce neutral acetic acid, and the net result is a relative excess of hydroxyl ions, causing a basic solution. However, under normal conditions, only a few reactions between water and organic compounds occur. In general, strong acids or bases must be added in order to achieve hydrolysis where water has no effect. The acid or base is considered a catalyst. They are meant to speed up the reaction, but are recovered at the end of it.

Lahore Fashion Week

Dell expressed its commitment to creativity, design and style by joining the colorful activities and fashion ceremonies of the Lahore Fashion Week 2010. Dell's incredibly smart and high-performance notebooks were creatively featured on the catwalk by stunningly attired models during the high-end fashion extravaganza. Pakistan Fashion Week hit the ramps in Lahore from 16th to 19th of February 2010 as passion and creative energy drove all the prominent designers and models to participate in the events. More than 30 prominent Pakistani designers showcased a variety of casual and formal outfits, western wear, jackets and accessories. The Fashion Week 2010 was organized by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC), which plans to make it a permanent fixture in the country's social and business calendars. Nubla Iftikhar, Marketing Manager for Dell Consumer and SMB said: 'Dell Consumer and Fashion are intricately woven together and therefore, Dell is proud to be associated with fashion-icon Munib Nawaz and the Lahore Fashion Week. Dell Consumer Notebooks are a form of self-expression. With a vivid color palette to express one's personal style, Dell Inspiron and Studio notebooks make a statement. It is a canvas for people to say a little something about themselves." Dell notebooks were showcased during a fashion show featuring the famous designer Munib Nawaz who presented his Men's wear Collection. The fashion week was a huge success giving a much-needed fillip to the local fashion design industry. Celebrities including Ali Zafar, Mommar Ranna, Iman Ali, Ather Shahzad also attended the event, with the glamorous fashion fraternity coming to support the fashion week, which culminated as a signature fashion event of the city. Following are some of pictures from Lahore Fashion Week. Courtesy: KoolMuzone ©

.
,

Wal-Mart ..A scccess Story

m

Wal-Mart de México said it achieved "solid" results in a "difficult" environment in 2009 with a lift in full-year profits.

For the 12 months to the end of December, Wal-Mart de México earned MXN16.8bn (US$1.29bn), a 15% increase on 2008.

Net sales rose 10.4% to reach MXN269.39bn, while EBITDA amounted to MEX26.91bn, a 13% increase on 2008.

Scot Rank, president and CEO, said: "I feel very proud of the results achieved in 2009. We achieved very solid results in a difficult economic environment and we improved our competitive position for the long term."

The company struck a deal to buy Walmart Centroamerica, a retailer with over 500 stores in five Central American markets, in December.

And in the fourth quarter, net income rose 17% to reach MEX5.74bn, while net sales amounted to MEX80bn, a 10% increase on 2008. EBITDA also rose 10% to reach MEX8.55bn.