Lisbon, Aug. 1, 2025 (Lusa) - Jerónimo Martins maintains its outlook for this year and expects consumer behaviour to remain cautious and restrained, with intense competition continuing in the markets in which it operates.
Jerónimo Martins’ net profit grew 6.6% in the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year, to €269 million, the owner of the Pingo Doce, Biedronka and Ara brands announced on Friday.
“Global geopolitical developments and political dynamics in major European economies shaped the first six months of 2025, creating a heightened focus on adaptability,” said the group led by Pedro Soares dos Santos in a statement.
In a volatile environment, “we expect consumer behaviour to remain cautious and restrained and the competitive dynamics of the markets in which we operate to remain intense,” it added.
Jerónimo Martins operates in Portugal, Poland, Colombia and Slovakia.
“The outlook for 2025 remains essentially in line with that presented on 19 March”, and “our brands will continue to ensure the price competitiveness necessary to sustain the preference of those who trust our value propositions and choose our stores, and to strengthen their respective market positions,” said the owner of Pingo Doce.
In Poland, “the 9.2% increase in the minimum wage is contributing to real growth in household disposable income. Meanwhile, the competitive environment remains intense in a food retail market that remains relatively subdued,” it points out.
Biedronka, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, “will continue to lead the way in price competitiveness and design the best savings opportunities for Polish families” and “the priority will be sales performance”, which “in light of the above-market growth consistently delivered in recent years, presents a major opportunity”.
The Polish chain will remain focused on cost efficiency and the implementation of additional productivity measures “to protect profitability and respond proactively to the pressure resulting from the combination of low inflation in its basket and rising wage costs in the context of the low growth in food consumption that observers have noted”.
Jerónimo Martins points out that “the good results of the store formats used for expansion encourage the brand to continue strengthening its market presence with 130 to 150 store openings planned (net) by 2025”.
The refurbishment programme “should now cover around 200 locations” this year and the group also expects to “open a new distribution centre, which will join the 17 already in existence”.
The operation in Slovakia was marked by the opening, in the first half of the year, of “six Biedronka stores in the country and the start of operations at the first distribution centre”.
By the end of 2026, the group adds, “people expect the operation to have at least 50 stores in the country.”
In the case of the Polish health and wellness chain Hebe, it “is working on strengthening cost discipline as a way to manage the resulting pressure on margins.”
Hebe plans to open around 30 new locations this year, “keeping the e-commerce channel at the centre of its growth and internationalisation strategy”.
In Portugal, “the 6.1% increase in the minimum wage has contributed to higher consumption, and the focus on promotions remains the dominant behaviour in terms of food”, it said.
Pingo Doce, “which has benefited from the success of the All About Food store concept, will continue with its refurbishment programme, expected to cover around 50 stores” this year.
The group also plans to open around 10 new locations this year.
Recheio will move forward “with its store refurbishment programme, which continues to enhance the value proposition for the HoReCa [Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés] channel, while the Amanhecer partnership network, which already has more than 700 locations, will continue to expand”.
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