Sligro Food Group has tobacco sales to thank for a slight rise in sales in 2024, but it has stopped selling tobacco in the new year. Belgian sales saw another decline, but signs of improvement has been reported.
Tobacco sales stopped
The Dutch foodservice wholesaler saw its sales rise 1.1 % to 2.89 billion euros in 2024. The sales increase was entirely organic, the company stresses. Dutch sales grew 2.6 % to 2.494 billion euros, which was + 4.6 % in the fourth quarter. Excluding tobacco, sales in the Netherlands grew 0.4 %, which rose to + 3.2 % in the fourth quarter.
Since supermarkets in the Netherlands no longer sell tobacco, some of the tobacco sales are shifting to Sligro’s traditional customers, such as shops at petrol stations. As a result, tobacco’s share of sales rose from 7.4 % in 2023 to 9.2 % (or 267 million euros) last year. However, Sligro has also completely stopped selling tobacco since the beginning of this year.
Sales in Belgium fell 7.8 % to 396 million euros, but the company reports an improving trend since the third quarter. On 27 March, before the stock exchange opens, Sligro Food Group will publish its full results and annual report for 2024.
