Croatia’s Studenac Expands To Slovenia With Kea Acqusition
Croatian grocery retailer Studenac is set to enter the Slovenian market through the acquisition of the Kea retail chain.
This strategic move marks Studenac’s first foray into international markets, offering new opportunities for growth and development in the region.
The acquisition agreement has been finalised, and the transaction is now pending approval from the Slovenian Competition Agency. Once approved, Studenac will gain control of Kea’s network of 31 stores located in the Celje, Maribor, Prekmurje, and Primorje regions of Slovenia.
These stores, averaging 250 square metres, generated nearly €50 million in revenue in 2023 and a net profit of €1.3 million.
Kea’s stores operate under the franchise brand of retailer Tuš, which is currently undergoing a takeover by Mercator.
Kea, based in Šentjur, is a family-owned business with a workforce of over 250 employees. The current ownership structure consists of 97% shares held by the company and 3% by Boštjan Kukovičič.
Studenac
Studenac’s success in Croatia is rooted in its neighbourhood store format and its aggressive acquisition strategy.
Over the past six years, Studenac has acquired eight smaller local retail chains, adding over 650 stores and tripling its store count since 2018. By the end of the first half of 2024, the network consisted of over 1,300 stores across Croatia, making Studenac the largest retailer in the number of stores.
Since 2018, Studenac has been owned by a fund managed by Polish private equity firm Enterprise Investors.
Related news
MeliBio’s Bee-Free Honey Technology Acquired by Swiss Foodtech FoodYoung Labs
MeliBio, a California-based developer of plant-based honey alternatives, has been…
Read more >Croatian coast, with a Hungarian heart: Vir is once again the summer favorite
According to Szallas.hu’s 2025 data, Croatia remains the number one…
Read more >Bell Food’s Eisberg unit sells three Eastern Europe plants
Bell Food Group’s Eisberg unit is selling three production sites…
Read more >Related news
The 2024 FMCG Retailer Ranking is out now
Everything remains the same: Lidl, SPAR and Tesco are the…
Read more >Szallas.hu: Lake Balaton is the most popular destination at Pentecost
A regional summary of bookings for the Pentecost long weekend…
Read more >The Hungarian food truck scene has found a new market
The Hungarian food truck scene is looking for a new…
Read more >