The Jerónimo Martins Group officially launched its operations in Slovakia this Wednesday with the inauguration of the distribution centre and its first Biedronka store in this country.
Biedronka's entry into Slovakia is the first internationalisation step taken by a Group food retail banner and represents a historic milestone as it is the first new player to enter the Slovak market in the last 20 years.
In addition to the first store inaugurated this Wednesday, located in Miloslavov, near Bratislava, Biedronka will soon be opening stores in other Slovak towns, namely Zvolen, Považská Bystrica, Nové Zámky and Senica, in a strategy aimed at gradually expanding the brand to other regions of Slovakia. In total, the company currently employs around 300 people in its stores, distribution centre in Voderady and head office in Bratislava.
“Today is a happy day for the Jerónimo Martins Group because we are arriving at a new country for us, with our Biedronka brand, in the year of its 30th anniversary. We believe we can make a positive difference in Slovakia and we will be committed to working closely with Slovakian suppliers to build the best possible offer at the lowest prices for Slovakian consumers and families” – said the Chairman of the Jeronimo Martins Group, Pedro Soares dos Santos.
Biedronka's first store in Slovakia will have an assortment of 3,400 products, with an emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables, wherever possible from local suppliers, and bread, prepared in several batches throughout the day.
With a sales area of 876 square metres, the store stands out for its state of the art design and is equipped with bright LED lighting, six self-service checkouts and three traditional checkouts and electronic price labels, price checkers and return deposit system machine.
“Our priority is to offer Slovak customers high-quality and fresh food at the lowest prices. From the very beginning, we have also focused on partnering with Slovak suppliers, with whom we have developed several private-label brands that emphasize freshness, quality and sustainability” - says Maciej Łukowski, CEO of Biedronka Slovakia, about the company’s entry into the market.
With over 230 years of experience in trade and food retail, the Jerónimo Martins Group operates more than 5,700 stores in Portugal, Poland, and Colombia.
In Poland, Jerónimo Martins owns Biedronka, the country’s largest discount grocery chain which in 2025 celebrates its 30th anniversary. It is a leader of the market, with 3,720 stores and over 81,000 employees, making it the largest employer in Poland and the second biggest company in the country when revenues are concerned. The Group in Poland also runs Hebe, a chain specializing in health and beauty products, which is also present in Czechia and Slovakia.