9030.png Last year was about expansion, this year Auchan will focus on consolidation

Thanks to the acquisition of the seven Cora stores, Auchan’s turnover augmented by nearly 10 percent in 2012: the retail chain’s sales amounted to a gross HUF 299.5 billion.

After 15 years in Hungary, Auchan now has 19 stores, which served 15 percent more customers (36 million customers/year) and sold 7 percent more products in 2012. Cora’s former ‘Flavour and Tradition’ products will return in Auchan stores under the ‘Regional Flavours’ name. Currently Auchan has 1,718 private label products, sales of which were up 25 percent in comparison with 2011. Auchan Hungary CEO Dominique Ducoux told our magazine that 2012 was about expansion and 2013 will be the year of consolidation. No new stores will be built, but petrol stations will be constructed next to existing Auchan stores. In 2012 and 2013 the company spends HUF 6 billion on store refurbishment. Last year they added more Tuti Tipp products to their assortment, started selling certain products in smaller packaging units and by the spring of 2013 they have created a store section for selling products in bulk in all 19 Auchan hypermarkets. 75 percent of manufacturers are Hungarian and about their supplier policy the CEO told that Auchan tries to establish long-term cooperation with Hungarian suppliers, who can decided if they want to supply just one store or more with their products. Auchan also does its best to open new markets for Hungarian wines and other renowned products.