Grupa Muszkieterów, the Polish arm of France's Les Mousquetaires, has posted a 5% increase in turnover to PLN 3.72 billion (€880 million) in the first half of its financial year.
The group said that its Intermarché retail banner posted sales of PLN 2.5 billion, while Bricomarché reported sales of PLN 1.23 billion, adding that the positive results reflect the success of the entire group.
Intermarché, in particular, saw an increase in turnover of 7% in the second quarter of the year, boosted by the later Easter.
Sales Acceleration
"We are satisfied with the results reported by Grupa Muszkieterów in Poland, including the Intermarché and Bricomarché chains," commented Marc Dherment, director general of Grupa Muszkieterów. "We recorded a strong acceleration in sales in the second quarter of this year."
Dherment said that "a number of factors" contributed to the group's positive performance, including a "more favourable calendar layout, and the changes we are gradually introducing in the case of the Intermarché network. The optimisation of this banner is still ongoing, but it has had a positive effect on turnover dynamics. However, we still see great potential to improve results in comparable stores, on a like-for-like basis."
A lot of factors contributed to this, including a much more favorable calendar layout and the changes we are gradually introducing in the case of the Intermarché network. Optimization of this sign is still ongoing, but now it has a positive effect on the turnover dynamics. However, we still see great potential to improve results in comparable stores. like-for-like.
In the first half, the retail banner launched a new advertising campaign, 'Świeżo, tanio, z optymizmem' (Fresh, cheap and optimistic), which seeks to inspire customers with meal ideas and around healthy eating concepts.
The campaign forms part of what Grupa Muszkieterów describes as a 'completely new brand platform' for its Intermarché brand, which incorporates investment in pricing and assortment.
This includes the launch of a new private label line, 'Z sadów i pól' (From orchards and fields), which offers a wider range of fresh produce options, aimed at those seeking to maintain healthy and balanced nutrition.
Bricomarché Performance
The group's Bricomarché home and gardening retail banner saw turnover rise by more than 13% in the half, with the opening of a new store in Mławie and the relocation of an outlet in Kamiennej Górz.
Bricomarché has also introduced a new range of e-commerce solutions, the group said, with a new web shop featuring some 13,000 SKUs, as well as click and collect options.
"We have ambitious plans for Bricomarché," said Katarzyna Jańczak-Stefanide, CEO of the Bricomarché network in Poland. "We care about the organic development of the network, which is why we plan to gradually open stores in new locations. We have around 12 openings planned for this year, both in smaller and larger cities."
Jańczak-Stefanide added that the number of stores offering e-commerce services has risen to 30, up from five at the start of the year.
© 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.
