El Corte Inglés - statistics & facts
With over 80 years of history, El Corte Inglés can be considered a Spanish staple. The department store group that originally took its name from a small tailor’s shop in Madrid has since expanded its portfolio of business segments. Although still headquartered in the capital, the Spanish group now also operates a travel agency and a security company, among others. Still, the biggest and most profitable business segment of El Corte Inglés is that of retail.
Overall, the number of El Corte Inglés stores worldwide has been dwindling, with the department store group closing over 300 locations since 2020.
If these recovering sales figures and the global rankings are any indication, the Spanish department store group will likely remain a top player in the field for years to come.
Retail as El Corte Inglés’ flagship business segment
In 2023, El Corte Inglés counted a total of 1,690 stores worldwide, with 955 points of sale belonging to the group’s retail segment. That year, the fashion brand Sfera made up more than half of these retail locations, either as standalone stores, stores in El Corte Inglés department stores, or franchises. Apart from Sfera, SuperCOR supermarkets accounted for almost 200 POS in the retail sector.Overall, the number of El Corte Inglés stores worldwide has been dwindling, with the department store group closing over 300 locations since 2020.
Recovering sales
El Corte Inglés, like other department stores, has experienced a dip in revenue in the early 2020s. However, the group recovered quickly, nearly reaching pre-pandemic figures in 2023. Furthermore, El Corte Inglés ranked second in terms of revenue among the leading department store chains worldwide that year, behind U.S. department store giant, Macy’s. This makes it the biggest department store group in Europe.If these recovering sales figures and the global rankings are any indication, the Spanish department store group will likely remain a top player in the field for years to come.
