Mitreski: We strive to make domestic production more accessible to customers

Konzum finished the past year with strong financial results, without credit debt and with continued investment in the sales network, technology, and employees. The CEO of Konzum Zoran Mitreski emphasizes that the company bases its further development on a strong domestic supplier base, digitalization, and a better response to customer needs.

– Last year showed that focusing on core business and customer relationships is the best response to a complex market environment. Konzum achieved nearly 1.9 billion euros in revenue and 196.6 million euros in normalized EBITDA, with an increase in net profit, and we ended the year without credit debt. These results are based on operations strongly reliant on the domestic economy, good customer knowledge, and investment in people and technology. About two-thirds of the products on our shelves come from Croatian suppliers, and through continuous cooperation, we strive to make domestic production as accessible as possible to customers, which is also important for business resilience.

In a time of geopolitical tensions and global disruptions, a strong domestic base and diversified supply routes provide us with greater security of supply and faster responses when circumstances change. A stable regulatory framework and conditions that enable long-term planning are important for business. As part of the Fortenova Group, we have such a foundation for continued investment, and we believe that Croatia’s entry into the OECD will further strengthen the quality of the business environment. With new regulations and customs policies, it is important that changes are introduced thoughtfully and with enough time for adaptation, as their impact in retail quickly transfers throughout the chain, from producers and suppliers to customers. At the same time, bringing production closer to the European market can be an opportunity to further strengthen domestic and regional supply chains.

In the upcoming period, our focus will be on further development and modernization of stores, digitalization, and investments in people. During 2025, we opened five new stores and modernized 40 seasonal ones, and we continue to invest in solutions that facilitate shopping for customers and daily work for employees. Artificial intelligence and automation are already being used in supply chain management, inventory, assortment, and promotions. We view technology as a way to increase productivity and free up time for tasks where human contact is most important. As a company with over 10,000 employees, we are aware that quality service begins with good working conditions.

In 2025, we invested 26 million euros in salary increases, and the new collective agreement starting in early 2026 brought an additional 25 million euros for wages. We also invest in education, career development, and the integration of foreign workers. On the other hand, we want to provide customers with the best value for money. Our loyalty program MultiPlus, with over a million members, allows us to tailor offers to their needs, and the functionality of Coupon by your example is how we turn data and technology into concrete benefits for the customer.

Finally, we view our business through the lens of responsibility to the environment of which we are a part. For years, we have been the largest food donor in Croatia, and the fourth season of the initiative Little Big Talents has just started, through which we support Croatian schools and provide them with equipment. And this is part of our approach to business: investing in people, the domestic economy, and service quality, along with responsibility to the community in which we operate – concludes Mitreski.