Ecuador

Many of the major brands found throughout the world are found in Ecuador. However, international brands are quite expensive here. The Ecuadorian government encourages stores to carry Ecuadorian brands. As a result, international brands are most often found in stores catering specifically toforeigners. For example, many Ecuadorians buy food at the local markets. Many foreigners buy food at SuperMaxi, the Ecuadorian version of the Supermarket. SuperMaxi carries a lot of international brands.

There is sometimes a remarkable difference in international major brands and Ecuadorian brands. For example, Peter Pan Peanut butter contains about 11 ingredients while Schullo peanut butter (made in Ecuador) contains only two: Peanuts and salt. The price for each is similar, with Schullo being slightly cheaper for an equalquantity. Another example: Ecuadoran made products don't usually contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (or GMOs); Coke and other soft drinks here are sweetened with sugar.

International branding is not as reliable here as it might be in a first-world country. There are many "knock-offs" that masquerade as the real thing. This is particularly rampant in clothes, shoes, and vitamins. For example, Centrum daily vitamins are rarely the "real thing," typically are made in Columbia (even if it has an American label), and may not contain the promised ingredients. Caution in one's purchases are advised. For example, the vitamin bottle give-a-way might be a paper or plastic label loosely cemented instead of one printed on the bottle, and the plastic bottle will be thinner and yield easier to pressure.

Many of the products sold here come from China and thus have Chinese brand names and unfortunately the typical poor Chinese quality. For example, Chery is a Chinese car that is common here. Clothes made in Ecuador may not have alabel; they just say "made in Ecuador" (i.e., hecho en Ecuador).Aeropostale

and Nike seem to be a popular clothes brands.Good food brands are Schullo, Kiosko, Toni, and variations of the Nestle labels. Electronics are the usual: Sony, Samsung, Apple etc. (and very expensive).The most popular car is probably Chevy and Hundai and Toyota for trucks. Appliances include Electrolux, LG, Samsung and so on. Mostappliancesare similar to those in other countries. Interestingly, washing machines are typically top loading, but without the center wringer, similar to front-loaders, but access from the top. I have not seen these in North America,Australia or Europe. They seem veryefficient, are compact, and clean well.

I would like to end with what I think is a funny story about labeling. Some Ecuadorians were talking about "Organic " food so popular in American and one mentioned thatforeignerslove organic eggs. They all laughed. I had to pause for a moment to understand why they were laughing. Then, it hit me. You see chickens running around everywhere free. They are typically feed from the families food scraps. They had no idea what a foreignerwould mean by "Free-range" chicken or "Organic" eggs. It just seemed so silly to them. However, they weren't being critical, just amused.