Spanish supermarket group Dia has posted gross sales of €10.547 billion for 2015, an increase of 14 per cent on 2014’s results. Full-year net sales at the group totalled just over €8.9 billion (an increase of 10 per cent).
In Spain alone, gross sales under the Dia banner rose by 13.3 per cent to €5.915 billion, while in emerging markets (Argentina, Brazil and China), sales reached €3.808 billion.
However, due to the impact of integrating new acquisitions, underlying net profit for the year fell by 3.8 per cent to €254 million.
"Dia accelerated sales growth in 2015, gaining market share both in Iberia and emerging markets," commented the CEO of Dia Group, Ricardo Currás.
"In 2015, we managed to successfully integrate the acquisitions, reinforcing the commercial model for our customers in Iberia and accelerating openings in emerging markets, as well as continuing the profitable expansion of our successful commercial proposition," he said.
"We are confident about our growth potential and the performance of our business units in 2016, despite the challenging economic scenario."
The group’s board of directors is now set to propose the distribution of the dividend of 20 cent per share at Dia’s annual general meeting, an increase of 11.1 per cent on 2014.
Dia Group ended 2015 with 7,718 stores. Last year, it opened a record number of franchises, with 612 new stores managed by franchisees.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jenny Whelan. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
