Slovenian retailer Mercator has posted a mixed first-half results amid challenging economic conditions in south-eastern Europe.

Operating income reached EUR47.6m in the first six months of 2011, down 10.3% from the same period last year.

Mercator, which operates across seven countries in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe said volumes and consumption had fallen amid higher levels of unemployment in all its markets.

The retailer, which faced rising raw-material costs, said it spent EUR12m on lowering prices on over 2,000 products and keeping the price of over 300 own-label lines constant.

The retailer today (24 August) reported net profit of EUR18.5m (US$26m), up 4.9%, but this was boosted by lower finance costs.

Mercator posted a turnover of EUR1.42bn for the first half of the year, marking an increase of 6.1%. Sales in Slovenia climbed 1.1%, compared to growth of 18.3% abroad. Slovenia accounted for 59% of Mercator’s turnover in the first half of 2011, down from 62.9% in the same period a year ago.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The company opened 26 outlets in the first half of the year, taking its network to a total of 1,535 stores.