Esselunga's margins improve in 2025

The year 2025 was good for Esselunga's accounts. The chain with the elongated esse designed by Max Huber saw sales value increase by nine-tenths of a point to over EUR 9.53 billion while eight-tenths of a point of price increases were absorbed to maintain competitiveness and customers grew by 0.8%. The improvement in profitability saw EBITDA (EBITDA) rise to EUR 725.5 million, or 7.6% of sales, from EUR 570.8 million (6.0%) in 2024. Net debt stood at -€1,615m, an improvement from -€1,694.1m at the end of 2024, thanks to an operating cash flow of €589.3m, which more than offset outlays for capital expenditure (€444.3m) and financing activities (€81.1m). The operating result rose sharply to EUR 294.7 million, it was EUR 163 million in 2024, and the net result reached EUR 163.8 million. At the closing date, the total number of employees was 28,305.

Capital expenditure net of operating leases amounted to EUR 378.4 million compared to almost EUR 536 million in the previous year. For the construction of the four new supermarkets to be opened in 2025, 6 Bar Atlantic, 2 EsserBella perfumeries and one Esse, €63.2 million was spent to renovate and maintain the existing ones another €88.5 million, for the purchase and development of areas and spaces for the new supermarkets €118 million, while almost €56 million was allocated for the headquarters and logistics platforms. At the end of 2025, the Esselunga system had 196 shops, of which 181 traditional supermarkets, 12 laEsse, 2 with the 'Le eccellenze di Esselunga' sign and 1 EsselungaLab. In addition, the Group operates 130 cafés, of which 122 under the Atlantic banner, 7 under the 'laEsse' banner and 1 under the EsselungaLab banner, and 50 selective perfumery and beauty service shops under the 'eb' banner.

The consolidated Esselunga recalls that its subsidiary La Villata immobiliare is also preparing the application for the release from seizure of the area of the Florence construction site in Via Mariti, where an accident occurred on 16 February 2024 in which five workers lost their lives and three others were injured when a prefabricated beam collapsed. Preliminary investigations have excluded group companies and employees from the chain of responsibility. On the other hand, the Siena building site remains under sequestration: the Gip of the Court of Siena sees in the works already carried out and in those under construction an offence of illegal subdivision. After legal consultations, the company believes it acted correctly and has 'well-founded arguments to support in the proceedings the legitimacy of its actions'.