Discount Retail Chain Ara Colombia (owned by Portugues Jeronimo Martins) sales rose from 21 million euros in 2013 to 1.8 billion in 2022 and the number of employees from 466 to 12,460, but the forecast is to reach 14,500 this year.
Jerónimo Martins expects to reach 1,300 Ara stores in Colombia, with 2,500 million euros in sales this year, according to information advanced to the market on Tuesday. The supermarkets built from scratch in this Latin American country are expected to represent, in 2023, about 8% of the sales of the owner of Pingo Doce. According to the presentation published on the CMVM website, Ara is among the 20 largest companies in Colombia in terms of sales and number of employees. Sales rose from 21 million euros in 2013 to 1,768 million in 2022 and the number of employees from 466 to 12,460, but the forecast is to reach 1,4,500this year. The forecasts of Dona do Pingo Doce, point to an increase of 41% of sales this year, compared to 2022.
But Jerónimo Martins' ambition for Ara supermarkets does not stop there. The goal is for the Colombia operation to represent 20% of the group's total sales within ten years. To achieve this goal the idea is to have between three and four thousand stores, including franchising. For now, the approximately 1,300 stores that it intends to have in operation this year are supported by 17 distribution centers and small warehouses, a number that is unchanged from 2022.
Jerónimo Martins argues that the "Ara format is very well received in all regions and neighborhoods" and that "traditional retailers continue to lead the market."
