For Spaniards it is an important food establishment, so much so that little more than a year ago the entry of foreign capital in the company shares through Qatari sheik Al-Thani’s investments sparked heated controversy, and not only among some of founder Ramón Areces’ heirs. El Corte Inglés is the biggest European department store group, with a network of 96 shopping centres, two of which are in Portugal, and ranks fourth on a global scale. In 2015, it recorded a total turnover of €15.22 billion, marking a growth of 4.4% compared to the previous year, thus confirming a reversal of trend after a long period of negative tendency. The Hipercor hypermarket chains record a less brilliant performance, which is due to the pressure in the grocery store sector.
FOCUS ON ITALIAN SPECIALITIES –High investments in advertising, customer loyalty through membership cards, and the product range have always been the pillars of its business model. The latter counts towards innovation of the trademark offer and spaces dedicated to high cuisine, such as the Gourmet Experience. Thanks to a partnership with a local operator, food products have recently started to be exported to China, as well as to Britain, where the main exported products are olive oil and cold cuts in Tesco supermarkets. Despite its principal focus on Spanish food, the Iberian player welcomes several international proposals, considering also numerous Italian specialities. Its Gourmet Experience project ranges particularly from tapas to American hamburgers, over oriental street food, sushi, and Italian cuisine, represented among others by Rummo and Cav. Giuseppe Cocco Pasta, Formec Biffi sauces, Rustichella D’Abruzzo tomato sauces, Gianni Negrini cold cuts, Beppino Occelli and Ferrarini cheeses and Galup panettoni.[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”8″ gal_title=”STORE CHECK El Corte Inglès Madrid”]