The distribution defends itself against the criticism received in recent months about an alleged excessive increase in its business margins taking advantage of inflation. The main employer in the sector, Asedas, which brings together companies such as Mercadona, Dia, Lidl or AhorraMas, argues that, contrary to what the United Podemos party in the coalition government has accused, the companies dedicated to food have exercised “as a containment dam” before the increase in prices. It was the premiere in a public act of Josep Antoni Duran y Lleida, the new president of the organization.
Duran i Lleida has expressed, in a ceremony held in the Cecabank auditorium, that it seems “unfair” to the criticism that distribution has received in recent months, “assessments without any economic basis and without any rigor”, he added. “Entrepreneurs have felt unfairly treated by going from being considered heroes [during the pandemic] to villains,” he explained.
The socialist part of the Government has seconded the declarations of Duran i Lleida. Xiana Méndez, Secretary of State for Tourism and regular interlocutor of the distribution, has defended that “there has not been an increase in margins” by the distribution, but that “inflation has hit the entire” food chain. The sector, she added, “is key to containing prices and is not to blame for the situation.”
To support, in part, these statements, Asedas has presented this Wednesday the “proximity food distribution report in Spain” and in it has offered data on the average profitability of the sector. Based on the data from the commercial registry, the 62 large distribution chains achieved in 2021, the last complete data, the profit margin was 2.19% with respect to their sales. In total, the joint profit of the sector was 1,677 million, below the 1,790 million of 2020. About 2022, the year in which prices rebounded strongly, only six companies have registered their annual accounts and, therefore, Asedas It has not provided global data.
Another noteworthy piece of information from the report affects distributors’ investments. Always according to Asedas data, 3.7% of what they billed in 2021 was invested in improving the supermarket.
Spain currently has 25,170 food establishments that generate more than 465,000 jobs, between direct and indirect jobs. In 2022, the sector opened 878 newly built stores. In the first five months of this year, 251 openings have been recorded.
