The hypermarket and supermarket chain Alcampo announced on Thursday the closure of up to 25 stores in Spain, which will also entail a staff adjustment and the departure of 710 employees. Most of these closures affect stores that are part of the package of 224 supermarkets acquired from DIA in 2023. Many of these locations have not adapted to the new business model, are poorly located, or incur excessive costs.
In an official statement, the French company explained that it is embarking on a “path of transformation” to “improve results and ensure sustainable growth in each and every one of its stores.” For this reason, Alcampo is implementing “a workforce adjustment plan,” a decision that, while difficult, is responsible and necessary.
To respond to changing consumer shopping habits, who increasingly prefer smaller and more convenient stores, Alcampo has also begun reducing the sales area of 15 of its hypermarkets.
In addition, the company is implementing measures to “ensure the best shopping experience.” These include renovating and modernizing over 60 stores and strengthening its online business.
It’s worth noting that Alcampo closed its 2024 fiscal year in Spain with a 1% decline in sales compared to the previous year, recording revenue of €5,004 million. The company currently operates 526 locations in Spain, including 80 hypermarkets and 446 supermarkets, 130 of which are franchised. Alcampo employs a total of 23,300 people.
CCOO: “The goal is to preserve jobs”
The Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union confirmed that “the company has presented a list of locations affected by the mass layoffs, which includes several hypermarkets. However, this list did not identify any specific supermarkets that would be closed.”
The union stated that the next step in this process initiated by Alcampo’s management is to establish a negotiating table for the collective layoffs. It pointed out that “the company is obliged to provide the unions with all the necessary documentation so that we can analyze it and begin negotiations.”
“At CCOO, we will address this difficult, new situation within the company, aware that our primary objective is to protect jobs. In the event of layoffs, we will work to ensure that this occurs under the best possible conditions.”
