The Bon Preu group, owned by Joan Font, earned 55.9 million euros in 2022, a year of maximum complexity for the distribution sector due to the increase in food costs and inflation, which closed at 15 .7% last December, according to the INE. The result reflects this situation, since Bon Preu's net profit is growing, but at a slower rate than sales. The income of the company, which includes the brands Bonpreu, Esclat, EsclatOil and BonpreuEsclat Energia, increased by 16.5%, to 2,076 million euros, while net profits did so by 5.8%.
Its profit margin was thus reduced from 3% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2022. The reason, group sources explain, is the price containment that they have applied so as not to transfer all inflation to the client, in addition to the increase in energy costs. In fact, the price increase in its stores has been below inflation, which has helped them gain customers at a time of extremely high competition, the company adds. In total, Bon Preu has allocated 1.9 million euros to mitigate the increase in the price of the shopping cart. This 2023 they will continue with the price moderation policy, they affirm, while they hope to increase sales by 10%.
These challenges have not stopped the intense expansion process in which the group is immersed. Among its projects, the construction of the new Montblanc logistics center stands out, which will allow it to double its size and expand in the south of Catalonia, where it still has room to gain commercial presence. The complex will be completed in about two years, with a total area of 103,600 m2 and an investment of 204 million.
As for new openings, they hope to open seven Esclat stores, five Bonpreu and four gas stations in the coming months. The total planned investment will be 150 million euros, a historical record for the group in one year (in 2022 they invested 109.2 million euros, 5.5% more than the previous year, in openings and reforms).
This growth will lead to an increase in the workforce, which is now close to 10,000 people. The group closed 2022 with 9,600 employees, 98.35% of whom have a permanent contract, and has launched a campaign to claim the value of workers in the sector. Its retail park is made up of 134 Bonpreu supermarkets, 57 Esclat supermarkets, 22 online purchase collection centers, 58 gas stations, 13 supermarkets and 50,000 customers of its electricity supplier.
