French retail group Les Mousquetaires, that owns supermarket chains Intermarché and Netto as well as several DIY chains, saw its sales grow 2.3 % last year. There was a significant sales increase in Belgium, even before the group doubled its store network this January.
Strong growth in Belgium
Les Mousquetaires achieved a turnover of more than 36 billion euros in 2022, a year that was marked by a context of unprecedented inflation, strong cost pressure and changing buying behaviour. Entrepreneurs therefore focused on cost savings to meet the expectations of consumers who saw their purchasing power decline and focused on essential purchases, the press release explains.
The group’s two supermarket chains achieved combined sales of 31.3 billion euros. In France, market share rose to 15.9 %, with particularly strong growth for discount chain Netto (+ 8.3 %). In Belgium, the 77 supermarkets accounted for a sales growth of 7.2 % to 825 million euros. The chain’s market share in Belgium rose by 14 percentage points to 2.97 %. Since the beginning of the year, the group has been working to integrate the 86 supermarkets acquired from the Mestdagh group.
Betting on discount
DIY chains Bricomarché, Bricorama, Brico Cash and BricoPrivé.com accounted for combined sales of 4.4 billion euros. Especially in France, the retailer suffered from higher prices and supply problems. In Poland, Intermarché and Bricomarché recorded growth of 10.5 %, while in Portugal that was 9.5 %.
The Musketeers are also food producers themselves: the 56 factories of its industrial division Agromousquetaires achieved a turnover of 4.5 billion euros, up 8.5 %.
Since the beginning of this year, the group has a new chairman: Thierry Cotillard wants to focus even more strongly on discounting, digitisation and sustainability.
