Profit owner of Pingo Doce grows 11% to 333 million – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
 

Both inside and outside doors, the marks of Jerónimo Martins saw the business grow in 2015. The company that owns the Pingo Doce, Recheio and Biedronka chain of Polish supermarkets, among others, we had an increase of 8, 3% in sales over last year, totaling 13.7 billion euros. Net income rose 10.5% to Euro 333 million.

Biendronka, which accounted for a little more than two thirds of turnover, had a sales growth of 9, two%. The Pingo Doce supermarkets, which account for a quarter of the total, rose by 5.4%, while filling stores, which are intended for the market and catering and have a weight of 6% in the business, grew 4, 1%.

the multinational has also strengthened its presence in Colombia with the opening of 56 new stores Ara. Already in Poland, opened 15 new Hebe stores that sell health products and cosmetics.

Given the results, the company’s board of directors intends to give shareholders a dividend of 26.5 cents per share, a Total around 166.5 million euros. “2015 was a good year for all our signs, who fought for increased sales and market shares, in line with the main priorities for the year,” she wrote the president of the Jerónimo Martins, Pedro Soares dos Santos, in the message accompanying the presentation of results, made on Wednesday. “This, combined with a strong last quarter, motivates the board of directors to propose again a return excess liquidity to shareholders through the payment of an additional dividend”.

The positive performance follows a year in which Jerónimo Martins had seen profits sink: in 2014, net income had fallen 20%, fruit pressure on food prices and increased competition in the key Polish market. It was on that basis that the group says have outlined a strategy for the last year based on an increase in market share: “The group’s companies in Poland and Portugal, started in 2015 in anticipation of the continuation of a reduced food inflation and a strong promotional dynamics in the food retail sector. Aware of these market challenges, the group has taken over as top priorities for the year to increase sales and market share. “

Jerónimo Martins anticipates that this year food prices will slightly rise and that retailers will a “strong promotional activity,” both in the Portuguese market, as in Polish. “Food inflation in these countries is expected to remain at very low levels, although some estimates point to improvements compared to 2015 values,” the statement said.