The number of discount stores in Italy reached 5,065 in July, up 165 from a year earlier, according to data from Nielsen, as reported by daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
The Puglia region boasts the highest number of discount outlets (30%), followed by Sardinia (26%), Sicily (25.5%) and Basilicata (24%). Bottom of the list are Valle d'Aosta (6%) and Lombardy and Emilia Romagna (11% each).
Eurospin, Lidl and Md Group control half of the discount market with a combined turnover of over €10 billion.
Eurospin ended 2015 with revenue of €4.4 billion (+6.7%), operating profit of €189 million (up from €176 million) and 1,050 points of sale. Lidl Italia is second with €3.4 billion in revenue and 560 stores.
Lillo Group (which includes Md) posted revenue of €2.1 billion (€1.97 billion in 2014) and operating profit of €66.9 million in 2015.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
