Román Ramos, founder of Grupo Ramos, dies

Román Ramos Uría, the visionary founder of Grupo Ramos, passed away on August 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped Dominican retail. His journey began not in boardrooms, but from humble origins in Pola de Allande, Spain. Arriving in the Dominican Republic in 1959 at just 17, Ramos Uría initially worked for M. González y Compañía before taking the helm of La Sirena, then a modest fabric store, in 1963.

In 1965, amidst the uncertain economic climate of the April War, Ramos Uría and a business partner purchased La Sirena for RD$50,000. What started as a 300-square-meter shop with fewer than ten employees blossomed under his leadership. He introduced innovative retail practices such as self-service, continuous operating hours, and fixed low prices, transforming La Sirena into a pioneering department store.

The expansion continued with the family's entry into the food market in 1979, rebranding Supermercado García as Súper Pola. Further growth led to the establishment of a new La Sirena store in Santiago in 1985 and a corporate reorganization into Grupo Ramos in 1999. The group's most significant expansion phase began in 2006, acquiring five new establishments. In 2011, Grupo Ramos ventured into real estate with Multiplaza Higüey, and in 2012, launched Aprezio, a smaller-format store designed to serve local communities and cater to daily shoppers with limited budgets.

Ramos Uría's entrepreneurial spirit was evident in his approach to business. He measured success not just in revenue, but in job creation. From its initial eight employees, Grupo Ramos grew exponentially, employing 1,017 people by 1999, 6,264 by 2006, and over 10,000 by 2012, spread across 36 stores in ten provinces. His passing marks the end of an era for Dominican commerce, a testament to a life dedicated to innovation and growth.

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Aprezio sought to reach neighborhoods and communities where installing a large store was not viable. Its objective was to get closer to the consumer who shops daily and has a limited budget, not just the one who makes a bi-weekly or monthly purchase.