Following Brazil Sale, Exito Posts COP$11 Billion Net Income for 3Q 2019
Medellin-based multinational supermarket giant Grupo Exito on November 14 posted a COP$11 billion (US$3.2 million) net income for third quarter (3Q) 2019 – not comparable to 3Q 2018 since its former Brazilian operations are now officially listed as a “discontinued operation.”
Following a September 12 decision by most Exito stockholders and its board, Grupo Exito sold its stock holdings in the “Grupo Pão de Açúcar” Brazil operation to its France-based Grupo Casino holding company.
Exito’s corporate-wide gross income in 3Q 2019 rose 7.5% year-on-year, to COP$3.6 trillion (US$1.05 billion), while recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 11% year-on-year, to COP$275 billion (US$80 million), according to the company.
Colombia operations saw their best sales in three years, posting 5.1% year-on-year growth, while recurring EBITDA margin grew 12.8% in 3Q 2019 and 4% in the first nine months 2019.
As a result, Colombia generated a net profit of COP$11 billion (US$3.2 million) for Grupo Exito.
“The results in Colombia show the positive impact of the implementation of innovative strategies, both in the ‘Exito Wow’ and ‘Carulla Fresh Market’ [store formats] and the maturation of the ‘Surtimayorista’ format. In addition to e-commerce and home sales, these accounted for 76% of total sales growth in the quarter,” according to the company.
In its Uruguay division, Grupo Exito bragged that this operation “continues to be the most profitable of the organization with an EBITDA margin of 8.4% and growth of 17%.”
In Uruguay, sales grew 4.1% year-on-year, “mainly due to the fresh-market format that already represents 34.5% of total sales,” according to Exito.
As for Argentina, “in the middle of a very challenging macroeconomic context, the company’s figures show a good commercial performance with sales growth of 36.7% in local currency,” according to Exito.
The company’s real estate business in Argentina “continued to leverage the results with more than 170,000 square meters of leasable commercial area and 93.4% occupancy.”
Grupo Éxito ended 3Q 2019 with 651 food outlets: 535 in Colombia, 91 in Uruguay and 25 in Argentina, with a consolidated sales area of more than 1 million square meters.
“The result of Grupo Éxito is very positive in sales growth and consolidation of its operating profit,” said Carlos Mario Giraldo Moreno, President of Grupo Éxito. “In the midst of very competitive markets, this profitable growth responds fundamentally to innovation in formats, digital transformation, complementary businesses such as real estate, credit, insurance and travel.
“In Colombia, the ‘Éxito Wow, ‘Carulla FreshMarket’ value formats, and the cash-and-carry format brand, ‘Surtimayorista,’ continue to grow in double digits, and the electronic and direct commerce channels already represent 4.4% of the total sales of the company in this country, ” added Giraldo.
