Action’s nine-month net sales grow to €9.6 billion (+20.9%), like-for-like sales growth 9.8%

• Action’s nine-month net sales rose to €9.6 billion (+20.9%), like-for-like sales growth was 9.8%, driven by a higher number of customers
• Action added 189 new stores during this period, bringing its total number of stores to 2,755
• In the first nine months, Action created 5,461 new jobs, increasing its workforce to 74,501 people
• In Spain, Action opened its first distribution centre (DC). Built to the highest building sustainability standards, this DC now serves as a blueprint for Action’s upcoming DC-openings

Zwaagdijk-Oost, 14 November 2024 – Today, non-food discounter Action announced its trading update for the first nine months of 2024.

During this period, Action’s net sales increased to €9.6 billion (+20.9% compared to the same period in 2023). Like-for-like sales (excluding new stores) increased by 9.8%. After 4,000 price reductions in 2023 and 2024, Action’s sales growth is driven by a higher number of customers.

New stores and new jobs

So far in 2024, Action has added 189 new stores. This brings the total number of Action stores in 12 European countries to 2,755. In total, Action now expects to add approximately 350 new stores this year, twenty stores more than earlier expectations.

In this period, Action has created 5,461 new jobs to serve its growing number of customers. The company offers 74,501 people stable work and development opportunities. Action’s workforce consists of 156 different nationalities, making Action as diverse as the communities in which it operates.

Hajir Hajji, CEO: “Action’s good development has continued. After lowering 4,000 prices, our growth is driven by an increasing number of customers. During the remainder of 2024, we plan to open a significant number of new stores, including three weeks with more than twenty new store openings in a single week. I am proud of the tremendous engagement of our colleagues. This enables us to do better every day.”

Customers choose Action as favourite retailer

Action’s growth is based on the satisfaction of its customers. In recent weeks, Action has again been honoured with several customer awards. Besides winning the ‘Insegna dell’Anno’ (category: ‘Household goods’) in Italy, Action was voted Retailer of the Year (category: ‘Department Stores’) in Belgium and the Netherlands. In France, Action won ‘Meilleure Chaîne de Magasins’ in the category ‘Gift Ideas and Decoration’. In Germany and Austria, Action was recognised as ‘Bester Händler des Jahres’ in two categories: ‘Decoration’, and ‘Household goods & Gifts’.

Fast development in Southern Europe

Recently, Action received its first-ever customer award in Italy, the ‘Insegna dell’Anno’. This award highlights how customers in Italy are embracing Action. On 28 September, Action opened its 100th store in Nola (Naples), celebrating 2,000 colleagues in Italy. In Spain, Action opened its 50th store in Santiago de Compostella on 18 October. In Guarda on 12 September, Action opened its seventh store in Portugal since starting here on 27 February this year. Italy and Spain are among Action’s fastest-growing countries.

Action sustainability: first distribution centre opened in Spain, serves as new blueprint for sustainable construction

Action has opened its first distribution centre (DC) in Illescas (near Madrid), Spain, to serve its stores in Spain and Portugal. The new DC was built to the highest sustainable building standards and certified as ‘Outstanding’, the highest BREEAM rating. This distribution centre is Action’s first gas-free heated DC.

Action expects to develop more than five new distribution centres across Europe in the coming two years. Here, Action will apply the same sustainable building standards as in Illescas, representing Action’s future DC blueprint.