Biedronka was supposed to conquer this country. There are delays

The Portuguese retail giant Jeronimo Martins, owner of the “Biedronka” chain of stores, has postponed the planned debut on the Slovak market from the end of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025. According to the Lisbon daily “Jornal de Negocios”, the first stores will be opened no later than March next year. This information was also confirmed by the industry magazine “Distribuicao Hoje”.

Formalities delay the opening of stores

The main reason for postponing the inauguration of “Biedronka” in Slovakia are formalities, including the need to obtain the required business permits. Earlier, in the first quarter of 2024, the president of Jeronimo Martins, Pedro Soares dos Santos, announced that the first Slovak stores could be opened by December 2024. However, these plans have been revised.

Five cities to start with

According to the “Distribuicao Hoje” magazine, the first “Biedronkas” in Slovakia will be opened in five cities: Zvolen, Levice, Senica, Povaska Bystrica and Nové Zamki. The debut in this country will mean Jeronimo Martins’ entry into the fourth market, after Portugal, Poland and Colombia.

“Biedronka” – success in Poland and international expansion

“Biedronka” is the largest retail chain in Poland, with over 3.6 thousand stores. shops. In March 2024, company representatives announced that they planned to open 130-150 new branches in Poland by the end of the year.

For Jeronimo Martins, expansion into Slovakia is an important step in international development, especially after previous unsuccessful attempts to enter the Brazilian market.

The Slovak market is a new challenge

Slovakia, although small in terms of population, may prove to be a promising market for the Biedronka chain. The company is counting on success similar to that achieved in Poland. However, before this happens, the company must meet local requirements and formalities that are currently delaying the implementation of the plans.