Worten reduces operation in Spain: 14 stores close and 17 pass into the hands of MediaMarkt – Meios & Publicidade

Worten intends to focus its operation on the Spanish market on the digital channel, maintaining only the “16 physical stores with the highest profitability”, a decision that reduces to less than one third the current physical presence of the brand held by Sonae in the neighboring country. Of the network of 47 stores owned by Worten Spain, 17 will be transferred to MediaMarkt, which has reached an agreement with the Portuguese company for the acquisition of spaces and the transition of 270 workers, while another 14 stores will close.

“In the current context of transformation in the sector, accelerated by the current pandemic crisis, we decided to make structural changes, to guarantee positive operating results in Spain in 2021”, explains José Vieira de Almeida, country manager at Worten Spain, guaranteeing that “this change does not affect the continuity or independence of our business in this geography, where, from now on, we will focus on serving customers in the most efficient way, through online and physical stores that best adapt to our omnichannel model in Spain ”.

Pointing out positive results in the digital channel, the company explains, in a statement, that “sales of worten.es have grown significantly in recent years, which has accelerated the decision to focus on the online store and the 16 physical stores with the highest profitability ”. Reasons that support the intention of “accelerating the digitization of your business in that country, concentrating efforts on the digital channel and ensuring positive profitability in 2021”.

Following the business of selling the brand’s 17 stores in Spain, which is awaiting approval by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission and expected to take place in the first quarter of 2021, the spaces are expected to start operating under the brand. MediaMarkt until March.

The business, considers Alberto Álvarez Ayuso, general managing director of MediaMarkt Iberia, “fits perfectly with our strategic objectives of being the first choice as a reliable retailer for customized solutions in a technology-oriented world”. The official also stresses that “the proposed agreement also reflects our clear commitment to a commitment to the omnichannel model, with 17 new stores to boost our online sales with new delivery points and collection of purchases made online”.