Branislav Pekic

1 week ago | esmmagazine.com | Branislav Pekic

SPAR Hungary saw a 4.8% year-on-year increase in turnover in its 2024 financial year to HUF 1.11 trillion (€2.7 billion), driven by investments in network expansion. The company invested over HUF 5 billion (€12.2 million) to open two new SPAR supermarkets (in Békéscsaba and Hajdúböszörmény) and modernise nine Interspar hypermarkets and seven supermarkets. These upgrades primarily focused on locations in Budapest and several other cities across Hungary.

1 week ago | esmmagazine.com | Branislav Pekic

Italian supermarket chain Esselunga experienced a marginal year-on-year sales increase of 1.3% in 2024, reaching €9.45 billion. Recurring EBITDA amounted to €609.4 million (accounting for 6.4% of sales), down from €699 million in 2023. EBIT declined to €163.5 million from €240.3 million in the previous year. Net profit fell by a half compared to full-year 2023 to €55.9 million, partly due to a €38.5 million payment related to a since-closed investigation.

1 week ago | esmmagazine.com | Branislav Pekic

The Italian food retail sector, including major foreign operators, reported a 3% turnover growth in 2024, following price-driven increases of 7.6% in 2022 and 7.7% in 2023, a Mediobanca study revealed. The research, analysing 124 Italian and 31 international grocery retailers from 2019 to 2024, indicated that major Italian groups generated €109.6 billion in net sales in 2023, with foreign-controlled operators contributing €14.7 billion (13.4%).

1 week ago | esmmagazine.com | Branislav Pekic

The Hungarian unit of French retailer Auchan has launched its first 24/7 automated, cashierless store in Újbuda, Budapest. Auchan invested approximately HUF 100 million (€244,000) in the Auchan GO store, which has been set up with technological partner Kende Retail Operation, the retailer told the MTI news agency. The store allows customers to enter and pay for their purchases using the dedicated OkAuchan mobile application.

1 week ago | esmmagazine.com | Branislav Pekic

Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés has launched its annual Easter torrija campaign, expecting to handcraft over 550,000 of these traditional treats. The torrijas from the El Corte Inglés bakery are handcrafted using the original formula from over 50 years ago and using top-quality raw materials like fresh milk and cinnamon sticks. More than 300 pastry professionals are responsible for the entire process.