French retailer E.Leclerc has posted a 1.5% increase in turnover in full-year 2018, to €37.75 billion, excluding fuel.
The group reported that its online channels contributed some 59.2% of its growth for the full year (compared to 30% in full-year 2017), which 'confirms the success of the multichannel strategy' adopted by E.Leclerc over the past three years, the retailer noted.
Revenue at its Drive business went up by 6.9%, while it also enjoyed a boost from its specialty concepts (GSS) operations, including drugstore, pet shop and auto centre offerings (among others) of 4.2%.
In store, the group has sought to boost its organic offering, which now represents 4.2% of sales, compared to 3.5% in 2017, while its Marque Repère private-label brand increased its sales by 1.2% and now accounts for 19.7% of private-label market share.
Positive Momentum
"After a difficult first few months, the last quarter ended on a very positive momentum for E.Leclerc," said Michel-Edouard Leclerc, the group's president.
"In food, we are offering more and more quality fresh products, and we are developing our commitments with the agricultural sector and local producers. We will continue this momentum in 2019. We have just committed with Danone and Lactalis for a revaluation of the price of milk paid to producers [...] and have created our own brand to support producers in organic conversion," added Leclerc.
Across all markets in which it has a presence, turnover excluding fuel stood at €39 billion. E.Leclerc operates 691 hypermarkets, supermarkets and express stores in France, 652 Drive outlets in France, and 99 stores internationally.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
