Discounter Action has reported a 30% increase in sales in 2022, to €8.9 billion, with operating EBITDA growing to €1.2 billion.
The retailer said that the increase in sales was primarily the result of opening new stores, a higher visit frequency and a higher purchase amount per visit. The removal of COVID-19-related restrictive measures also partly contributed to its performance, it added.
New Record
Action grew its presence in all the countries in which it operates, while its store count increased by 280, which is a record level of store openings in a year. It operated a total of 2,263 stores as of the end of 2022.
Action launched in Spain in 2022 and, in March 2023, opened its first store in Slovakia, its eleventh market
The retailer currently employs some 80,000 personnel from 136 nationalities. In 2022, it created 8,211 new jobs, 61,343 people were trained and 2,667 colleagues were promoted internally, it added.
'Demand For Discount'
"Our formula, which offers a range of 6,000 articles in 14 product categories and a lot of variety at the lowest price, is popular in all countries where we are active," said Hajir Hajji, Action CEO. "Our customers visit Action both for daily products (cleaning products, personal care items such as toilet paper and sanitary towels) as well as for clothing or DIY items.
"All our product categories are experiencing growth, however last year, products that played into high energy prices (plaids and blankets, candles) were particularly popular.”
Read More: European Discount Chain Action Reports 30% Jump In Sales
Corporate Sustainability
Action also announced it has made progress in the field of corporate sustainability.
More than 1,900 Action stores are no longer reliant on gas as a fuel, while 95% of stores use energy-saving LED lighting. The use of gas is set to be phased out from all outlets by the end of 2024. Last year, Action said an average of 10% in energy was saved per square meter of retail space.
This month, the retailer will publish its Action Update 2022, which provides more extensive coverage of Action’s developments in 2022, including progress on the Action Sustainability Programme.
Read More: Non-Food Discounter Action Reports Growth In Turnover In 2021
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Robert McHugh. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
