In 2009, Emperia Trading Group, one of the largest Polish trading groups engaging in FMCG retailing and wholesaling, generated sale revenues of over PLN 5.5 billion. These are Emperia’s highest annual sales on record, an improvement of over 5% on last year’s performance. Net income stood at PLN 68.2 million, up by 15.2 percent on 2008. The Group’s investment outlays were in excess of PLN 159 million.
Two thousand and nine was above all the time of continued restructuring of Emperia, development of the retail business and further mergers and acquisitions.
Wholesale Business:
On 1 July 2009, Emperia completed the reorganisation of its wholesale business, as a result of which seven subsidiaries that used to operate throughout Poland were integrated into a single company styled Tradis. The integration of the wholesale business into a single organisation produced the richest offering in the Polish market of food products, cosmetics and household chemistry products, expansion of the modern sales network and improved service. The process included also streamlining the traditional and cash&carry warehouses and the introduction of a new organisational structure for the wholesale central office. Following the changes, the operations of Tradis are organised based on eight geographical regions, comprising modern distribution centres, supported by self-service cash&carry locations.
In 2009 three distribution centres were launched: in Stargard Szczeciński, Białystok and Poznań and three warehouses: in Zakopane (traditional), Gorzów (cash&carry) and Stargard Szczeciński (cash&carry).
Arsenal in Białystok, a company whose operations did not match the strategic objectives of Emperia, was sold. Arsenal exported and imported food products and distributed materials among FMCG producers in the domestic market. In accounting terms the transaction was PLN 4.2 million net in the red.
Retail Business:
The Emperia Trading Group continued the rapid development of its retail chains combined with the streamlining of the organisational structure and outlet format. In 2009, the number of outlets managed by Emperia Trading Group’s retail chains increased by over 1,500 locations. The last year saw Emperia Trading Group launch 224 new Groszek outlets, 188 new Euro Sklep outlets, and 621 new Lewiatan supermarkets. The Stokrotka chain added 31 new locations and the sixth Delima deli supermarket opened in Rumia.
In 2009, Retail Partner Service (PSD), set up as part of Emperia to collaborate with retail cooperatives, signed agreements with further PSS retail cooperatives operating 308 outlets among them. At the end of last year, PSD worked with 372 outlets owned by 42 Społem retail cooperatives.
The Emperia Trading Group unified the visual appearance and equipment of retail outlets operating under the Stokrotka and Milea brand names. Alfa in Lublin and Centrum Społem in Sanok started trading under the Stokrotka brand name. Lewiatan Śląsk merged with Lewiatan Dolny Śląsk.
The central Rego system was launched to provide retail chains with cutting-edge IT store management software; the certification of eXpedient, the first retail store management system, was completed and the certification of further systems got under way.
In addition, in the first half of 2009 a property development project was successfully completed and the expanded shopping centre in Łomża was sold at a profit of PLN 13.4 million net.
The Emperia Trading Group continued its development strategy based on the active consolidation of the retail market. In the past year, further companies joined the Group: Alfa in Lublin, Ambra in Czechowice-Dziedzice, Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowe Centrum Społem Sanok, and Lewiatan Północ.
“The 2009 performance confirms our belief that the consistently implemented restructuring of the Emperia Group, the adopted strategy of rapid organic growth and active consolidation brings results and guarantees further improvement of Emperia Trading Group’s financial performance,” says Artur Kawa, Chairman of Emperia’s Management Board.