Biedronka wants to open 130-150 new stores net in Poland in 2025

Additionally, the renovation program of current locations will cover 250 to 275 locations by 2025.

The company also plans to add a new distribution centre to the existing 17 points.

In Slovakia, Biedronka began operations in early March by opening three stores and the first distribution center. By the end of 2026, at least 50 Biedronka stores are to operate in Slovakia.

The Hebe drugstore chain is to expand in Poland this year by approximately 30 new locations, and the e-commerce channel will remain at the center of its development strategy.

In 2025, Biedronka will continue to focus on cost efficiency and productivity improvement activities in order to protect profitability and respond to the economic environment.

Jeronimo Martins points out that at the beginning of 2025, Poland will continue to experience low food price inflation combined with rising wages and stagnant food consumption.

Biedronka's LFL sales increased by 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, Jeronimo Martins reported. Biedronka is to continue to focus on price competitiveness this year, with sales results being a priority.

For comparison, in the third quarter of 2024, Biedronka's LFL sales decreased by 1.9%, in the second quarter they decreased by 4.6%, and in the first quarter of 2024 they increased by 4.6%.

"In 2024, everything we predicted at the time of the publication of our 2023 results has materialized. A combination of factors has created a challenging environment for our brands: deflation after two years of significant price increases, high cost-push inflation, strong consumer price sensitivity and more intense competition in the food retail market," said Jeronimo Martins CEO Pedro Soares Dos Santos.

"Our brands, and Biedronka in particular, focused on volumes and competed fiercely for sales, once again outperforming the markets in which they operate," he added.

Jeronimo Martins announces that its brands will continue to ensure competitive pricing to retain customers and reinforce their market position. According to the Portuguese company, the increase in the minimum wage in Poland by 9.2% will increase the disposable income of households.

However, for now, competition in food retail is intense and overall food consumption is stagnant.

"Biedronka will continue to be the leader in price competitiveness, and the priority will be sales results, which is a big challenge considering the consistent achievement of better results by our main brand in recent years," the release reads.

In 2025, Biedronka will continue to focus on cost efficiency and productivity improvement activities in order to protect profitability and respond to the economic environment.

Jeronimo Martins points out that at the beginning of 2025, Poland will continue to experience low food price inflation combined with rising wages and stagnant food consumption.

Biedronka's local currency sales in 2024 increased by 4.1%, while LFL comparable sales in local currency decreased by 0.3% last year. In euro, sales in Biedronka stores amounted to PLN 23.6 billion, which is 9.6% more than in 2023.

Biedronka's EBITDA fell by 1.3%, and in local currency it fell by 6.3%. Biedronka's EBITDA margin was 7.7%, compared to 8.5% in 2023. Jeronimo Martins said in a statement that the decline in the EBITDA margin was influenced by price investments and the decision to significantly increase wages.

The Hebe drugstore chain's sales in 2024 increased by 18.1% in local currency, with LFL growth of 8.5%. In euros, sales amounted to PLN 583 million, which is 24.3% more than in 2023.

Online sales accounted for about 20 percent of Hebe’s total sales in 2024.

"Good sales results, careful margin management and tight cost control resulted in EBITDA growth of 39.4% (+32.4% in local currency), with the margin increasing to 10.2% (9.1% in 2023)," Jeronimo Martins wrote in a press release.

Hebe opened 36 stores on the Polish market (33 stores net), as well as two stores in Slovakia and one in the Czech Republic.

During 2024, Biedronka opened 186 new stores (161 new stores net) and remodeled 280 locations.

Biedronka wants to open 130 to 150 new stores net in Poland in 2025. Additionally, the renovation program of current locations will cover 250 to 275 locations in 2025. The company also plans to add a new distribution center to the existing 17 points.

In Slovakia, Biedronka began operations in early March by opening three stores and the first distribution center. By the end of 2026, at least 50 Biedronka stores are to operate in Slovakia.

The Hebe drugstore chain is to expand in Poland this year by approximately 30 new locations, and the e-commerce channel will remain at the center of its development strategy.

Jeronimo Martins intends to pay EUR 370.8 million in dividends from its net profit for 2024, which amounts to EUR 0.59 gross dividend per share.

The management board's proposal means that Jeronimo Martins may allocate approximately 50% of its consolidated net profit for 2024 to dividends.

"The proposed dividend payment provides the group with flexibility in implementing its expansion plans, taking advantage of potential inorganic growth opportunities and maintaining a strong balance sheet," the release read.

In 2024, Jeronimo Martins had revenues of EUR 33.46 billion (an increase of 9.3% year-on-year).

The group's EBITDA increased by 2.9 percent to EUR 2.23 billion.

Net profit fell by 21.6 percent to EUR 606 million.

The Jeronimo Martins Group allocated approximately EUR 1 billion for investments last year.