Cortez

Cortez is a specialist, often round-the-clock chain of liquor stores that positions itself as the first independent alcohol-retail network of its kind in its home market. Instead of a corner monopoly shop, it offers a curated, internationally sourced range of spirits, wines, beers and craft products with knowledgeable in-store advice and a consistent, modern store concept. It is a format built as a category specialist rather than a general convenience store — a true category-killer for alcohol.

As a franchisee you open and run your own, legally and financially separate store under the Cortez brand, while headquarters supplies the standardized store concept, layout and merchandising standards, site-selection analysis and sales forecasting, equipment sourcing with leasing options, startup and operational training, ongoing category know-how and online price- and market-monitoring tools. The core engine for HQ is a buying group that pools demand across all stores and negotiates terms with distributors and producers, including access to producer promotional campaigns normally reserved for the largest chains. Alongside full franchise units it runs a lighter 'partner' track for existing independent stores that want only the brand, buying conditions and tools.