Sales at Spain's largest supermarket chain, Mercadona, rose 4% to €19.81 billion in 2013, according to figures released by the company today. On the back of strong revenue the company recorded a profit of €515 million, 2.9% of total sales, and a 1% increase on the year previous.
One of the highlights of the firm's annual performance was the activity of Spanish produced goods. The company said in a statement that 85% of its purchases over the past 12 months were of Spanish origin, accounting for €14.5 billion.
In 2013, Mercadona invested €650 million, a sum which went mainly towards the opening of 61 new stores, which brought it up to a grand total of 1,467 supermarkets at the end of the year, and also towards refurbishing 53 stores to upgrade them to the company’s current standards.
More investment went into the construction of the logistics block in Guadix (Granada) which is now open and another one in Abrera (Barcelona) still under construction.
For 2014, Mercadona say that they will raise investment to around €700 million, mainly set aside for the opening of 60 new stores, and the refurbishment of existing supermarkets.
For Juan Roig (pictured), Mercadona President, “2013 marked a turning point for Mercadona.
"It was the year when we laid the foundations for the company’s vision for the next six years. Now it’s time to reinvent ourselves once again and introduce into Mercadona a Sustainable Agro-Food Chain. To achieve this sustainability we must satisfy the five components in the chain: customers, workers, suppliers, capital and society, and to give value to the work of our farmers, cattle raisers and fishermen and at once offer a wide range of high quality fresh products at the best possible price."
