DIA Group generates adjusted net profit of EUR173m in 9M 2014, up 5%

.DIA Group posted gross sales under banner of EUR6.827bn, 8.7% more in local currency than in the first nine months of 2013. In emerging markets, business remains very dynamic: in Brazil, Argentina and China, sales jumped by 30% to EUR2.364bn in the first half of the year. DIA Group is moving ahead with its expansion plans in these markets: in early October, it initiated activities in a fourth region (Bahia) in Brazil.

In Spain, in a deflationary context, gross sales under banner decreased by 1.7% to EUR3.8bn, although volumes rose. In Spain, from January to September, DIA invested EUR109m in store openings and remodelling, up 14%. The conversion from Schlecker to Clarel means that there are now 679 stores under this banner.

“The third quarter of 2014 has once again shown our proven ability to keep our profitability margins at very healthy levels amid a very deflationary environment, with deflation being especially high in some key categories for DIA. We continue to gain market share in Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Shanghai, and keep on sharing these expansion rates with our suppliers and franchisees.

We are on track to achieve our financial targets thanks to our clear growth strategy and roadmaps as well as our teams’ proven flexibility and commitment”, declared Ricardo Currás, CEO of DIA Group.

Adjusted net profit in the first nine months of the year amounted to EUR173m, up 5%. Net attributable profit jumped by 53.4% to EUR222.3m due to the disinvestment of DIA France.
As of the end of September, DIA had a total of 6.707 stores.