Biedronka (lit: Ladybird) is a chain of supermarkets. It is the largest chain of discount shops in Poland with 3,283 stores as of 2022[1] and 70,000 employees (2022).[2] It is owned by the Portuguese group Jerónimo Martins. The name "Biedronka" means "ladybird", and a cartoon ladybird is the company's logo.

Biedronka
Company typeJoint-stock company
IndustryRetail
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
FounderMariusz Świtalski
Headquartersul. Żniwna 5, Kostrzyn, Poland
Number of locations
3,283 (2022)[1]
Area served
Poland
Key people
Pedro de Castro Soares
ProductsDiscount store, supermarket
RevenueIncrease 11.5 billion (2019)[1]
ParentJerónimo Martins
Websitebiedronka.pl

Biedronka sells mainly local products, many of which are manufactured under the company's own label. It also sells some Portuguese-made products, mostly wine.[3] Initially targeted at lower-income customers, it is now one of the most popular supermarket chains in Poland.

Biedronka has had a dominant position in Poland's grocery retail market for over a decade, and its main competitor in Poland is Lidl,[4] although competition is rising in form of Kaufland and Aldi.

History

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The founder of Biedronka was entrepreneur Mariusz Świtalski, owner of Elektromis. The first Biedronka store opened its doors on April 6, 1995, on Newtona Street in Poznań. In 1997, Jerónimo Martins acquired 210 stores from Elektromis, marking the beginning of a significant expansion phase for the chain.[5]

Since then, Biedronka has experienced rapid growth, exemplified by milestones such as the opening of its 1,500th store in March 2010 in Poznań on ul. Bobrzańska, followed by reaching 2,000 stores by 2012. [6] In September 2014, the chain celebrated the launch of its 2,500th store, and in February 2019, it reached the milestone of 3,000 stores.[7]

In 2008, Biedronka acquired and transformed over 120 stores previously operated by the German chain Plus into its own network of stores.

Biedronka's success is reflected in its consistent rise in rankings among Poland's largest enterprises. In the Rzeczpospolita list of the 500 largest enterprises in Poland, Biedronka has steadily climbed higher each year.

Similarly, in a ranking compiled by weekly newspaper Polityka, Jerónimo Martins Polska SA, the parent company of Biedronka, achieved 5th place in 2009 and 4th place in 2010.[8][9]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kim jesteśmy" (PDF) (in Polish). Lisbon: Jeronimo Martins Polska S.A. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Misja i historia". Biedronka (in Polish). Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  3. ^ "O firmie" (in Polish). Portugalski Świat.
  4. ^ "Polish discount retailer Biedronka boosts sales by 13.2 pct in 2017". Polish Press Agency. 12 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Jak Biedronka zmieniła się przez 20 lat funkcjonowania w Polsce (galeria zdjęć)". dlahandlu.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Biedronka 2000". Biedronka (in Polish). Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
  7. ^ "25 lat temu ruszył pierwszy sklep z szyldem Biedronka! – Handel dystrybucja". portalspozywczy.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Lista 500". Polityka (in Polish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Lista 500 – Polityka.pl". Polityka (in Polish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
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