Despite the logistical problems that hit retailers worldwide, Dutch non-food discounter Action managed to raise turnover by a quarter – almost equally through expansion and a rise in comparable sales.
“Better armed against logistical crisis”
During the first nine months of the year, turnover increased by 25 % to 4.8 billion euros. The reopening of all stores and the relaxation of the corona measures in the second and third quarter accelerated growth, owner 3i reports. On a like-for-like basis, revenues increased by 12.9 %.
Action does not provide profit figures for the first nine months of this year, but does say that gross operating profit (EBITDA) increased over the past twelve months from 579 million to 765 million euros, despite suffering from supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures on product, labour and transport costs. Action says it is “in a better position than many other retailers” to cope with these pressures while growing sales and profits.
Expansion
Action’s expansion programme has sped up again in 2021, after a slowdown in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-19. The discounter has already opened 181 new stores this year and is on track to add another ninety before the turn of the year. In Czechia and Italy, where Action started only recently, several branches are being added.
The non-food discounter recently announced that Hajir Hajji will become its new CEO on 1 January 2022. She succeeds Sander van der Laan, who is at the helm of the Dutch discounter since 2015.
