Spanish cooperative retailer Covilan opened 92 stores in Spain and Portugal last year, creating more than 300 new jobs.
Kovilan also claims to have consolidated its position as one of the leading local chains in the food sector during this period.
The retailer opened 86 stores in 13 autonomous communities in Spain, creating 283 jobs.
Last year, Portugal opened six supermarkets in five districts, creating 30 jobs.
The store expansion process coincided with the launch of a new store model towards the end of last year, the retailer said.
‘Good reputation’
“Thanks to the trust of small independent retailers and the good reputation of our business model, which preserves the local production base and plays an important role, we are in a process of gradual expansion,” said Jose Antonio Benito, President of Covilan. expressed great satisfaction. In the fight against population decline. ”
“Covilan’s advantage is based on a supermarket model that favors entrepreneurship and local economies, and which, as has been demonstrated in recent years, even in times of uncertainty experienced with the pandemic and the ensuing energy crisis. “It’s an attractive option for retailers,” he said. Added.
Expansion of store network
92 new stores will open in 2023, adding approximately 15,000 square meters of sales area to Kovilan’s existing store footprint.
In Spain, the largest stores were opened in Andalusia (32 stores), Catalonia (25 stores), the Basque Country (6 stores) and Extremadura (5 stores).
In Catalonia, Kovilan is strengthening its position by incorporating new partners and opening a new logistics platform in Barbera del Valles (Barcelona), which it says will improve the efficiency of product preparation and distribution. .
In Portugal, new stores have opened in Porto (2), Bragança (1), Viseu (1), Évora (1) and Faro (1).
Viseu’s stores feature the Covirán Plus format, a sustainable close-quarters store model with a focus on energy efficiency and environmentally friendly features.