DIA Group posts gross sales under banner of EUR7.734bn in the first nine months of 2017, 1.5% more than a year ago

In the first nine months of 2017, DIA Group posted gross sales under banner of EUR7.734bn, implying a 1.5% increase in euros and 1.4% in local currency versus the same period in the previous years. In a more competitive climate, DIA Group remains focused on its strategy of offering the customer the best products and services, always at the best price, with a network of modern stores that are adapted to consumers’ changing needs.

DIA Group is continuing with the transversal digitisation of all its processes, from logistics, stores, to human resources with a focus on the customer. In Spain, at the end of September, DIA was present in 33 provinces with e-commerce under the DIA banner, with Clarel and Oportunidades Dia throughout Spain, and with Amazon Prime Now in Madrid and Barcelona. Sales in the online channel in Spain reached EUR40.2m in the first nine months of 2017, 2.9 times higher than the amount registered in the same period last year.

In terms of gross sales under banner across the entire Group, Argentina and Brazil contributed with 11.2% growth in local currency, reaching EUR2.805bn.

Between January and September, comparable sales rose by 3.2%.

In Spain, gross sales under banner slid by 4% to EUR4.287bn due to the store remodeling rate; in the first nine months of the year, the company remodeled 500 DIA Market, DIA Maxi, and La Plaza de Dia stores with an investment of around EUR75m.

In Iberia, a total of 562 stores have been remodeled, and the number is expected to reach 600 by the end of the year. This would represent the biggest store remodeling programme in the company’s history.

“We remain focused in pursuing our strategy of putting the customer at the centre of everything we do. Lower inflation across our markets and significant changes in trading environment in last months in Spain have slowed down our sales growth in Q3 2017. We will not compromise on our commitment of giving our customers the best prices of the market. We believe this is the right thing to do and will help us to deliver on our long term ambitions. In Iberia, we have accelerated the process of store renovations giving our customers an improved experience and new services. This, together with a material price investment supports our commitment to return to positive LFL territory of sales in Iberia in Q4 2017, something that we have already seen in the first three weeks of October. In Latin America we continue achieving outstanding customer satisfaction ratings and delivering on our promise of profitable growth despite the slowdown in sales driven by lower than anticipated inflation”, stated Ricardo Currás, CEO of the DIA Group.