Spanish cooperative retailer Consum has announced that it opened 38 new stores under its Charter banner to expand its network to 406 outlets in Valencia, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, Murcia and Aragon.
The new stores added over 10,710 square metres of floor space to the retailer's network, taking its total sales area to more than 120,400 square metres.
The expansion comprised the opening of 16 stores in Catalonia and 14 in Valencia as well as six outlets in Castilla-La Mancha and two in the region of Murcia.
Consum saw sales exceeding €554 million in 2022, €72.7 million more than expected.
In 2023, the retailer plans to open at least 35 new Charter stores in Comunitat Valenciana (13), Catalonia (12), Castilla-La Mancha (6), Murcia (1) and Andalusia (3).
The retailer expects sales in the Charter chain to increase by 9% year-on-year, to €603.9 million.
Opportunity For Self-Employment
In 2022, more than 60% of the new franchisees with Charter were people who already had a store and have decided to invest in a new franchise.
Consum believes this is an indication that Charter is consolidating its position as an alternative for self-employment for franchisees.
The retailer has also witnessed new franchisees joining from other sectors such as the hotel and catering industry, which were affected by the economic situation.
With the opening of the new supermarkets, the number of workers hired by Consum franchisees has increased by 9.4% compared to 2021, to 2,967 workers, as of 31 January 2022, Consum noted.
The Charter chain caters to small towns and urban neighbourhoods that do not have sufficient population for retailers to set up large format supermarkets.
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
