From there, a process began to establish branches in areas of high population density and in commercial premises where there were adequate facilities with abundant parking.

Some specialists had observed a price war over the previous decade, where the large department store chains had not decided whether to fully enter into the competition put forth by a series of firms such as Pitusa.

[citation needed] Other observers noted that consumers had benefited the most from the situation, but the potential long-term implications for these companies if the escalating price war persisted were not fully anticipated.

It was believed that the economic outlook for the Island in the upcoming years would be challenging, necessitating increased work efforts and the utilization of all available administrative resources to enhance operational efficiency within the company.

It was said that some $20 million dollars were expected to be invested in the expansion project, adding that they had identified Cupey, Humacao, Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Ponce, Arecibo and Guaynabo, as possible areas for the establishment of stores.

With 2001 revenue of $246 million, Almacenes Pitusa was Puerto Rico's 17th largest locally owned company, according to the 2003 Caribbean Business "Book of Lists.

Enjoying a similar level of repeat business as Walmart at the time, Puerto Rico's own Pitusa was by far the most frequented discount store on the island.

[14] In December 2011, Pitusa confirmed it was exiting the supermarket business, selling or closing the 16 stores that made up the island wide discount food chain.

The move would transfer about $21.4 million in assets from National Lumber to the other corporation, including all existing contracts, real estate, land, improvements, equipment, vehicles and inventory related to 12 stores.

Published reports had confirmed that Pitusa had been facing challenges for the previous three years, during which it had been actively negotiating with suppliers to alleviate a portion of its growing debt.

[17] On July 9th, 2014, it was reported that Pitusa Muebles y Enseres filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a debt amounting to $26.7 million, according to the Puerto Rico Bulletin.