Italian retail group Esselunga has reported a 4.1% annual growth in sales during the first half of 2016, to €3.76 billion.
During the same period, net profits went up from €169 million to €182 million, while investments reached €206 million.
The expansion of the store network in 2015 and during the first months of 2016 has enabled the growth of total customers (+5.3%), achieved thanks to the combination of attractive pricing (with deflation of 1.6% to total customer benefit) and promotional activities developed during H1.
During H1 2016, a new store was opened in Monza (Viale Libertà), with the simultaneous closure of the one in the same city (Via Lecco). The shop in Milan (Viale Certosa) opened in 1968, was closed. Last month, a Superstore was inaugurated in Como (Camerlata); another Superstore will be opened in days in Cusano Milanino, while another supermarket will be opened in Prato Viale Galilei, to replace the existing one.
Esselunga has also announced the start of the centralized production of fresh pastries with the assistance of a well-known brand that has been awarded three Michelin stars.
© 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.
