The supermarket operator will allocate 60% of its investments to organic growth initiatives, including the opening of 80 stores in Chile and 30 in Peru.
Chilean supermarket operator SMU, parent company of Unimarc, Alvi, Mayorista 10, and Super 10, announced its new investment plan for the 2025-2029 period, which includes approximately US$600 million and includes growth initiatives, including store openings and renovations, as well as investments in efficiency and operational continuity.
The majority of the investments—approximately 60%—will be allocated to organic growth initiatives, including the opening of 115 stores: 80 in Chile, 50% of which will be Unimarc stores and the other 50% in Alvi and Super10, and 35 in Peru, in Maxiahorro stores. Additionally, more than 200 store renovations and conversions are planned.
SMU General Manager Marcelo Gálvez stated, “SMU's five-year investment plan reaffirms our focus on growth. With 115 new stores, including 80 in Chile, we will be closer to our customers, reaching a presence in 179 municipalities across the country and reaching more than 90% of the population.”
On the other hand, between 15% and 20% of the investments will be allocated to efficiency and productivity, including technological tools that improve efficiency throughout the operation, including stores, the logistics chain, and back-office processes.
The remaining 20-25% will be allocated to operational continuity, including the renovation of technological equipment, stores, and distribution centers. The plan will be financed with its own resources, without the need to increase debt.
For the current year, the plan includes investments of USD 120 million in 2025, including the opening of 24 stores: eight Unimarc stores, four Super10 stores, and four Alvi stores in Chile, in addition to eight Maxiahorro stores in Peru. Additionally, it will remodel more than 30 stores and invest in expanding its logistics network.
Marcelo Galvez added, “We are finalizing the 2023-2025 three-year strategic plan, and in the first two years we have already shown great progress, not only in the implementation of initiatives but also in the results achieved. For example, the 34 stores we are opening in 2023 and 2024 are, on average, exceeding budget in terms of sales and EBITDA, which demonstrates that we are choosing good locations and correctly defining the best format for each of them. The new plan we are announcing will allow us to leverage the great execution capacity we have developed as a company and continue investing in profitable and sustainable growth.”
