Dutch retailer Coop has said that the conversion of the last remaining EMTÉ stores helped boost its performance in full-year 2019, as the group saw group turnover increase by 8% for the year.
Group turnover rose by close to €100 million to stand at €1.3 billion for the year.
Record Market Share
The year 2019 saw Coop's share of the Dutch market achieve a record high of 4.2%, during the summer months.
New store openings were a major driver of the group's performance last year, it said, with 28 new outlets opening and the group completing the conversion of the EMTÉ stores it acquired from Sligro Food Group in 2018.
Coop's total store count totalled 314 as of the end of 2019, it said.
In addition, in terms of data infrastructure, new checkout technology, the digitalisation of processes and formula development and a streamlined innovation structure have all been introduced, which 'form the basis for further improvement of the shopping experience and returns in 2020'.
Management Changes
At the end of 2019, Coop announced a broadening of its management team, with new appointments in its human resources (Judith Peters); supply chain (Annemarie Goijarts); and franchise, acquisition and real estate (John Uffing) operations.
'With their years of experience, the management of the organisation is strengthened,' the group said.
On the current coronavirus situation, Coop said that it anticipates that the epidemic will lead to 'increased business pressure at the end of the first quarter of 2020', and it is working hard to both maintain the health and safety of its personnel, as well as keep its stores well-stocked.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
