It might be not be growing as rapidly as the BRIC countries, but Mexico is on the brink of a consumer boom. Thanks to a perfect storm of positive social and economic conditions, middle class households are set to increase their spending by 7% every year between 2015 and 2020.

In a row of makeshift shops in Mexico City, three generations of cooks whip up delicacies to tempt passers by. For now, your craving for Mexican street food will only be satisfied if you have some pesos handy. Can a new mobile payments initiative help small Mexican businesses to thrive?

In the second part of his report on e-commerce in Latin America, Ulysses De La Torre discusses the key differences between the Brazilian and Mexican markets, and examines the opportunities that are available to online retailers in Mexico.

With the UK’s furniture industry heavily fragmented, online retailer Loaf is looking to take a larger slice of the market by opening its first physical store – The Loaf Shack. The outlet aims to make buying furniture relaxing and hassle-free, but can it replicate the simplicity of shopping online?