‘Never on Sundays’ for Juan Roig

Juan Roig, President of Mercadona supermarkets, does not envisage Sunday opening.

He did not rule out the possibility, however:  “If we have to open, then we will open.  If we have to dance Sevillanas, then we’ll dance Sevillanas.”

Roig was speaking at the presentation of the Valencia-based company’s annual report, announcing a €19.8 billion turnover and €515 million profits in 2013.

Owing to stiff competition in the retail sector and because Spain’s economic situation “is not buoyant”, 2014 promised to be a hard year for the company, he admitted.

Roig preferred not to make predictions regarding the Spanish economy: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that actions speak louder than words.”

Staff remained unchanged at 74,000 in 2013, despite an earlier pledge to engage a further 1,000 employees. Nor will there be more contracts this year despite plans for 60 new supermarkets.

Mercadona created 10,500 jobs in 2011 and 2012 and he was proud, Roig said, that 80% of Mercadona employees had been with the company for four years or more and earned a minimum of €1,400 a month.