National distribution groups in Spain, including major players such as Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Eroski, Leroy Merlin, Ikea, MediaMarkt, Fnac, and Toys R Us, together formed a coalition that invoiced 45.724 million euros in 2022. This figure marks the strongest sales volume since 2012, the latest year for which data exists, signaling not only a 14.4% rise from the previous year but also continued growth beyond the pandemic era. The rise also sits 11.5% above the pre-pandemic benchmark, underscoring a resilient retail landscape.
According to the data collected, this group of companies earned 38 billion 356 million euros a decade ago. Since then, the turnover rose steadily, peaking in 2017 at around 41 billion euros before slipping by nearly 11% that year, amid broader pandemic impacts. Today the sector is restoring its growth trajectory, closing 2022 with a clear share—approximately 16%—of the retail economy in Spain, a level now closely aligned with what was observed before the Covid period.
In the report released midweek, the 2022 surge is linked to strategic decisions made by companies to adapt their activities, offerings, sales channels, and day-to-day operations to a market still influenced by recent waves of Covid and ongoing restrictions on travel and tourism.
“Pandemic-era limits on physical shopping, the surge in remote work, and the absence of millions of international tourists disrupted both foot traffic and purchasing habits,” note the report authors. “Nevertheless, about 4.1 million customers visit stores daily, representing around 22% of Spanish households. In parallel, e-commerce has continued to gain share in turnover, with the number of online shoppers roughly doubling the pre-pandemic level.”
Indeed, this revenue growth has also involved higher price levels. The National Institute of Statistics (INE) reports that inflation fell below 6% in 2022 but reached 10.8% by September, with prices remaining notably elevated later in the year. Glassware, tableware, household items, furniture and accessories, and food purchases were among the categories most affected.
food inflation
In a broader analysis, ANGED notes that non-food products posted around 10% growth as demand rebounded after Covid and as international logistics normalized. Food industry revenue increased by roughly 8.6%, much of it reflecting higher electricity costs and a sustained energy and raw material price surge that affected the entire agri-food value chain. The rise in food prices is presented by ANGED’s president, Alfonso Merry del Val, as a response to systemic costs rather than pure profit-taking, highlighting the essential role of distribution in buffering price dynamics observed in 2022.
He emphasizes that the sector faced unfair criticisms, arguing that official data show distribution firms absorbing part of the price increases seen at the producer level, thereby supporting suppliers and maintaining competitiveness. The message underlines the sector’s effort to stabilize supply and costs during a period of significant energy and material price volatility.
This network comprises about 7,200 stores acquired in 2022 and valued at 33.9 billion euros, according to a published snapshot. Local suppliers invested roughly 930 million euros, with one third directed toward digital transformation. Employment stood at around 229,000 people. This figure reflects a 2.5% decline from the previous year, a drop attributed to labor reform and its impact on temporary contracts.
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