Leader is a chain of supermarkets and hypermarkets, which belong to the Chilean-American D & S Wal-mart. They are direct competitors of the Jumbo hypermarkets belonging to the Chilean multinational Cencosud.

The leading brand was first created in 1995 as Ekono Leader in the Local General Velásquez, Station Commune, as an extension of existing premises then Ekono, which were basically a big shed with a low-cost products given the volume of large purchase and selling formats. Thereafter the premises were inaugurated in Puente Alto and Pajaritos in Maipu. The latter is the first to carry the brand leader as such.

In 1996 D & S purchase Fullmarket hypermarkets and one format is converted to the Leader.

In 2001 Leader enters the area of Santiago with a new hypermarket concept focused on service and product variety. This hypermarket is appointed Market Leader.

That same year the premises Ekono reconverted more surface, but lower than those of a traditional leader in Neighbor Leader. This is a compact hypermarket format with a smaller selection of general merchandise to compete in areas that do not require the presence of a traditional supermarket (residential and small cities).

Market Leader in 2003 was renamed simply Leader, and trademarks Ekono and called leaders pass Almac Express (now Express Leader).