Mario Irminger has headed Migros since 2023.Image: ATS
Mario Irminger, the boss of Migros, expects a very favorable year 2025, but further job cuts are expected. The orange giant also plans to expand further in French-speaking Switzerland.
Opening new stores in French-speaking Switzerland and modernizing existing ones: these are some of the objectives of Mario Irminger, president of the general management of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FCM), for this year.
“Migros’ turnover in 2024 is expected to be higher than the 32 billion francs of the previous year,” Mario Irminger told us. The boss of the orange giant expects operating results to be “as good, or even better, than in 2023”.
The major distributor presented a profit of only 175 million in 2023, one of its worst results. “A year ago we had to carry out very significant special write-offs. This will no longer be the case this time. From a purely operational point of view, we are doing a little better in terms of profitability,” explains Irminger.
In 2025, however, due to the strategy of lowering prices, sales will be reduced by 500 million.
“At the same time, we should sell more in volume. This means that supermarket sales are expected to remain stable. Online sales in the non-food sector will continue to grow strongly”
Hundreds of positions lost
However, Migros will suffer significant losses this year following the sale of its specialist markets.
The orange giant began the biggest transformation in its history in 2024, announcing in February the elimination of 1,500 positions. Some 726 positions have already been lost so far. And Irminger suggests there will be more layoffs in 2025.
In addition, in its objectives for 2025, Migros intends to develop in the Lake Geneva region. “We are under-represented in this part of Switzerland and we will need to open more stores. In French-speaking Switzerland, the need for branch renovation is also important,” underlined Irminger in 24 Hours. The management of the major distributor also plans to expand its medical services in French-speaking Switzerland and open doctors’ offices.
Since January 1, the VAT exemption has been lowered from 300 to 150 francs in order to combat shopping tourism. Good news for the president of the general management of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FCM), who would however have liked an additional turn of the screw. “A reduction to 50 francs would have been ideal,” he says.
Migros is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. On this occasion, the orange giant transforms its name into “Thank you” to “thank the Swiss population for their loyalty”, according to a press release published Monday. The logo will be partially adapted. (jzs/ats)
News on the economy? This way
Show all articles
The situation of the Russian economy worries Vladimir Putin. He is now putting pressure on Elvira Nabioullina, the director of the central bank, who apparently understood his message.
If there is one subject that is currently giving the Russian president a hard time, it is his country’s economy. The ruble rate has recently collapsed, while inflation is soaring. In addition, Moscow suffers from severe sanctions successively imposed by the West after the invasion of Ukraine by Kremlin troops.
Related News :