Alcampo plans to open 37 new stores next year, including its first hyper franchisee

Alcampo is warming up for the next year, leaving behind a complex year in which it has alternated adjustment measures such as the closure of 16 supermarkets and the workforce reduction in another 127 stores with 7 new openings. All of them from franchisees. For 2016 the plans are very different: it plans to open 37 new storesamong them, the first franchised hypermarket of its history in the town of Illescas (Toledo). Furthermore, the distribution group is already looking towards the imminent christmas campaignwhere it foresees an average growth of between 4 and 6%, although in segments such as prepared dishes and nougats, expectations range between 15-20% and 9%, respectively. Some announcements made by the new general director of Alcampo, Carlos Pedreira, during a meeting with the media held this Thursday.

Regarding the future Illescas hyper center, Pedreira highlighted that “the works are already completed and pending administrative authorizations”, and added that the new establishment will be located in front of the logistics center of this Toledo town where multinationals such as Inditex or Amazon are also installed. Pedreira has pointed out that “Supermarkets are the strategic axis to respond to consumer needs.” In this area, the new head of Alcampo has highlighted the investment of 80 million euros for the renovation of 31 centers (5 hypermarkets and 26 supermarkets) carried out this year. In addition to the adaptation of 10 stores to the convenience format.

Growth of between 4 and 6% in the Christmas campaign

Regarding the Christmas campaign and the prospects for 2026, Pedreira has been cautious since “In the last 3 months of the year we risk 30% of the turnover” although he has been optimistic and committed to growth in sales figures. In the strict terrain of Christmas, Alcampo hopes an average growth of between 4 and 6% with sections such as prepared dishes, which would register much higher increases of between 15 and 20%. Or nougat, where a growth of 9% is estimated. Among the big bets for the Christmas campaign are from the panettones and roscones made in the Alcampo workshops themselves to ua large warehouse with up to 1,800 references, including products that are in vogue such as Advent calendars, 100% national lamb, prawns and a salmon that is gaining followers, among other novelties.

He also agrees with other players in the sector that prepared dishes ““They are a market trend to take into account” and one of Alcampo’s great bets. Pedreira has listed that the client now has less time for cooking and that his group offers several options: from ‘ready to cook’ dishes for self-consumption and very simple cooking to preparations to be consumed outside or inside the premises and more industrial dishes. In any case, the general director of the distributor has opened the door to study new purchasing operations to grow inorganically, such as the one agreed with Dia in 2022, as well as organically, through new openings of either its own stores or franchise stores.

Promotion of the online channel and a sports nutrition line

Another milestone that Pedreira has mentioned is the new head of the distribution group is the opening of the CFC robotic warehouse in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid) which has been framed within the “logistical adaptation of the company from a more traditional one to one more adapted to digital customers, who have less time.” The aforementioned warehouse, in the words of Pedreira, has allowed them “increase online sales in the Community of Madrid by more than 50%.” Specifically, he added that orders increased from 10,000 to 31,000 monthly with more than 1,000 daily on average. “All this with a perfect order rate of 95% and 97% punctuality in deliveries,” he noted.

The general director has described Alcampo’s client as omnichanneland highlighted that it moves without complexes between the physical and digital channels according to its convenience. Along these lines, it has included a strong commitment to energize the ‘Club Alcampo’ with new offers and advantages. A channel that will close the year with 10% more associates, reaching 3.6 million customers. In addition to releases such as ‘Eat & Move’the sports nutrition line of the distribution group and the incorporation of 420 new references. The head of Alcampo has reaffirmed the company’s purpose of growing in all formats in Spain over the coming years, including hypermarkets. In this linehas concluded the “integration phase” of the around 200 stores acquired from Dia in August 2022.