Alcampo supermarket chain to close 25 stores in Spain, cutting 710 jobs
The affected shops are spread across 13 regions, including Madrid, Valencia, Andalucía and Galicia
Alcampo has announced the closure of 25 of its supermarkets across Spain and the implementation of a collective redundancy programme that will see 710 employees lose their jobs. The move represents a 3% cut in the company’s Spanish workforce, which totals more than 23,300 people.
Announced this Thursday May 8, the closures will affect shops in a wide range of regions, including Madrid, Valencia, Andalucía, La Rioja, Cantabria, Navarra, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Galicia, Aragón, Asturias and the Basque Country.
Although the French-owned company, which is known in France by the name ‘Auchan’, has confirmed that both supermarkets and hypermarkets will be impacted, it has not disclosed the specific locations.
The Spanish trade union CCOO has received a preliminary list of the affected centres but says it has not been given detailed information about the closures.
“This is all the information that the company has given us,” said a union spokesperson. “Now, the next step in the process initiated by Alcampo management is to set up the collective redundancy negotiating table.”
The union also expressed concern about the impact of the announcement. “We are going to face this difficult situation, which is new in the company, being clear that the main objective is to maintain employment and, in the event that there are departures of workers, they should leave in the best possible conditions.”
Alcampo stated in a press release that the decision is part of a wider effort to improve operational efficiency and adapt to its commercial strategy.
“In 2023, Alcampo acquired a package of 224 supermarkets, despite the fact that some of them did not adapt to its model, their location was not desirable or they had an excessive effort rate,” the company said.
Many of the shops now facing closure were acquired from supermarket group DIA in a €267 million deal that was completed in mid-2023. In total, Alcampo took over 235 stores during that acquisition, but has since assessed that some do not fit its long-term plans.
“In this transformation process, it is essential to recover results and ensure sustainable growth in each and every shop. This is why Alcampo is launching a staff adjustment plan, a decision which, although difficult, is responsible and necessary,” the company added.
Despite the planned layoffs and store closures, Alcampo insists it remains committed to growth in the Spanish market. The company says it aims to expand through a “multi-format and multi-channel” retail approach, offering low prices and a wide selection of products while supporting both national and local suppliers.
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