Portuguese food retail company Sonae MC is planning to open 22 small-format Continente Modelo and Continente Bom Dia stores during 2015.
According to CEO Luis Moutinho, Sonae aims to get even closer to its customers, by opening stores in areas where its market share is lower than desired. The first new Continente Bom Dia store to open this year will be located in Vila Praia de Ancora, municipality of Caminha, Viana do Castelo district.
Last year, Sonae opened five Continente Bom Dia stores (taking the total to 39) and six Continente Modelo hypermarkets. In addition, Meu Super, a franchise insignia of Sonae MC, opened 39 units in 2014, bringing its total to around 120.
Sonae MC’s 9M 2014 turnover totalled €2,537 million, up €45 million (or 1.8%) year?over?year. The company invested €122 million in its retail units in the period (+11% y/y) and continued to solidify its leadership position in the Portuguese food retail market (+1.1%). Sonae MC also continues in an initial prospecting phase for wholesaling and franchising, exporting its own brands to Cape Verde, China, Cyprus, Croatia, Macau, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Thailand and Timor.
Sonae MC operates a number of distinctive formats in Portugal: Continente (hypermarket), Continente Modelo (hypermarket close at hand), Continente Bom Dia (convenience supermarket) and Meu Super (franchised supermarket), as well as Bom Bocado (cafeteria/restaurants), Note! (book shop/stationery), Continente Ice (frozen products), and Well´s (health, well-being and eye care).
Continente hypermarkets are located in major shopping centres in the main cities in Portugal; Continente Bom Dia have around 800 m2 of retail space, ideal for more frequent daily shopping; Continente Modelo offers around 2,000 m2 in medium sized population, while Meu Super shops have a size of between 100 and 500 m2 and are located in residential or business areas with a high pedestrian traffic.
© 2015 - European Supermarket Magazine
