Dutch retail chain Hema wants to focus on its core markets and has therefore decided to close all six shops in Spain in the course of 2022. Earlier this summer, the retailer also announced its withdrawal from the UK.
“No leading market position”
As soon as she took office, new Hema CEO Saskia Egas Reparaz indicated that she wanted to focus primarily on sustainable growth in core markets, specifically the Benelux and France. The decision to discontinue the Spanish operations fits into that strategy.
“Of course having to conclude that we have not been able to build a leading market position in Spain is regrettable. We are evaluating our entire country portfolio with the aim of concentrating on a limited number of countries, which will allow us to better exploit growth opportunities in the future. This is better for Hema, its employees and its customers in the long run,” Egas Reparaz said in a press release.
