Building an Emperia in Poland

Emperia Holding, one of the biggest Polish companies in the field of FMCG sales and distribution, has signed a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of 100 percent of Poznań-based Maro Markety. Finalization of the deal is subject to the consent of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. Maro Markety operates a chain of 18 grocery stores in the Wielkopolskie and Opolskie voivodships.

The acquisition is part of Lublin-based Emperia's development strategy, which aims to increase the consolidation of the Polish retail and distribution market. "We've been pretty persistent when it comes to the implementation of our strategy and I am sure this will guarantee us the recognition of investors in the long run. However, this is not the end of our ambitions and in fact we are now negotiating with new partners who will join Emperia Holding soon," says Artur Kawa, president of Emperia's management board.

Emperia closed the first quarter of 2007 with zł.16.7 million in net profit, which was 75.8-percent higher than a year ago. By the end of 2007, it plans to increase its sales by 10 percent. Emperia will pay for this transaction with its own capital and through the issue of additional shares.

Earlier this year, Emperia acquired 100 percent of Bartoszyce-based FMCG distributor Centrum, which owns a chain of 13 stores in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodship. Emperia's current portfolio comprises seven distribution subsidiaries and eight retail chains.