Mercadona saw its consolidated sales on a constant surface area increase by 3,3% in 2021, to €27.819 million, of which €415 million correspond to sales from its 29 stores in Portugal, where it achieved a market share of 3% after two years of operation.
Over the past 12 months, especially since April, the company has faced a complex economic and social context, in which it has had to manage various pandemic-related measures in the different regions where it operates, including mobility restrictions and lockdowns, as well as a significant increase in costs due to the soaring growth in raw materials, transport, and industrial prices, which has been reflected in its profit margin.
Faced with this inflationary situation, and in order to minimize its impact on sales prices, Mercadona decided not to pass on the full amount of these increases to its customers, which generated a negative impact of 100 million euros on operating margins and resulted in a 6% reduction in net profit, which, in 2021, was 680 million euros.
10 new stores in Portugal in 2022
With the opening of nine more stores during 2021, reaching 29 units in the country, Mercadona achieved a sales volume of 415 million euros and paid a total of 62 million euros in taxes through the company with which it operates in Portugal: Irmãdona Supermercados. The brand ended the year with a team of 2.500 employees and a total investment of 110 million euros.
Mercadona's forecast for the 2022 fiscal year is to open 10 more stores in Portugal, in view of the continuation of its expansion project in the country, for which it will continue to invest in opening stores and strengthening its support structure.
