Ametller Origen breaks its sales record again in 2024

BarcelonaThe supermarket and food company Ametller Origen closed the 2024 financial year with a turnover of 681 million euros, 23% more than last year, as reported by the company itself in a statement on Wednesday. This figure represents the highest sales volume that the group has recorded since its founding in 2001.

The bulk of sales, some 599 million euros (also 23% higher than the records for 2023), were concentrated in the chain's stores, with particular emphasis. In this sense, Ametller has increased sales of fruit and vegetables by 20%, so that they now "represent 41% of the establishments' business," Josep Ametller, co-founder and CEO of the company, indicated in the document. "Virtually all the growth has been generated by a higher sales volume, and not by price," he added.

In total, Ametller Origen has 1.2 million customers, 77% more than five years ago, and the company's market share in fresh products is 8%, more than one point higher than the previous year, while in the retail food market as a whole, it is 3.63%. In the case of fruit, it is 14% and in the case of vegetables, 11%. In 2024, the chain opened a dozen new establishments, but at the same time increased sales in supermarkets that were already in operation.

Beyond fresh products, however, prepared food also increased its weight and the group already has a 9% market share in this category. Most of these products – along with products from other categories, such as dairy products, creams and tortillas – are made in the company's workshop in the municipality of Olèrdola, in Alt Penedès (where the group is also based). This production centre increased its turnover by 20% to 31 million euros last year. Almost a third of the workshop's production is sold in other chains, both Spanish and foreign.

Growth in own production

The main difference between Ametller Origen and its direct competitors in the supermarket market is that it has an agricultural division to partially supply its stores, which in 2024 grew by 10%, reaching 72 million euros in turnover. In total, the company has 1,800 hectares of different crops spread across Catalonia, especially in Penedès, Maresme, Baix Llobregat and Terres de l'Ebre, as well as in other parts of the State, especially in Alicante, Murcia, Almería and Soria.

However, despite having part of the production outside Catalonia, for the moment the company focuses its network of establishments only in Catalan territory, with the exception of three supermarkets in Andorra. In addition, in parallel to its usual activity, the group began its project in 2021 to create a macro agricultural park in the municipalities of Gelida and Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, also in Alt Penedès.