Swedish retailer Axfood has reported a 7.2 per cent rise in net sales to SEK 41,247m for 2015 as it announced plans to launch eCommerce for its Willys and Hemköp banner this year.
The retailer reported strong performance for its fourth quarter of 2015 with consolidated sales for the period October–December totalling SEK 10,791m, an increase of 8.1 per cent.
Profit after tax rose 23.3 per cent to SEK 1,361m in 2015.
All of Axfood's banners reported positive results with strongest performance coming from discount banner Willys - sales rose 6.4 per cent to SEK 22,320m with like-for-like growth of 4.4 per cent.
Axfood reported 1.8 million members in its digital loyalty programme Willys+.
Private-label sales represented 29.1 per cent of total sales.
Axfood’s supermarket banner Hemköp reported strong growth with sales increasing by 4.9 per cent to SEK 12,005m and like-for-like growth of 4.4 per cent.
Private-label sales grew by 0.9 per cent to represent 21.4 per cent of overall sales.
Commenting on the results, Axfood's chief executive Anders Strålman said, "Axfood had excellent sales growth in 2015. All companies contributed to the positive development. During the fourth quarter – which included the important Christmas holiday trade – all companies posted greater sales. During the year we reached new customers, in part by establishing eight new stores and in part by drawing more customers to our existing stores."
With approximately 2.6 million signed up to loyalty programmes, Axfood can now target relevant offers to customers to a greater extent, he concluded.
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