Last week, Mercator held its annual conference in Ljubljana, with the catchy topic the Opportunities of the Future. Its main objective was to highlight the position of Mercator in the light of last year’s achievements and to clearly outline the road forward for further development of the company that this year entered the jubilee 70th year of successful business.
The first day of the conference was dedicated to employees, for whom the management portrayed the key parameters of Mercator’s business. President of the Management Board Tomislav Čizmić, in his address to more than a thousand employees and associates, pointed out that employees should be proud of the joint achievements that are reflected in good business performance and financial stability of the company. Previous successes are what’s opening numerous opportunities for Mercator, which they plan to utilize through clear strategy.
The second day of the conference was intended for suppliers and other important business partners, as Mercator, as the largest Slovenian and regional retailer, is implementing its projects in the local, national and regional environments. Retail is a local project, inseparably connected with local producers and processors, or the domestic economy in general.
Present at the conference were previous Presidents of the Mercator Administration, and they were surprised by a personal address by Miran Goslar, “Mercator’s father”. He pointed out the significance of Mercator and wished future success to all those who are connected with Mercator.
The trustee for Agrokor, Fabris Peruško, then briefly presented further plans for the stabilization and reconstruction of Agrokor, and within this framework the conditions for further development of Mercator.
President of Mercator’s Management Board, Tomislav Čizmić, then presented Mercator’s successes, challenges and future plans to business partners and highlighted the differentiation of supply and services as a key competitive advantage.
Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Development and Technology of Slovenia, emphasized Mercator’s importance for suppliers and the entire Slovenian food and processing industry, and for the occasion of the 70th anniversary, he wished the company success in the future.
At the end of the conference, Tomislav Čizmić summed up the key future opportunities that will enable Mercator to remain stable and profitable as it remains a natural channel for local and regional brands and the best neighbour for everyone in the future.
Guest experts Bryan Roberts and Chris Newbery also gave presentations, highlighting the importance of knowing your customers and rewarding their loyalty as key factors of success, both for producers and for retailers.
The conference, packed with content, ended with a performance by Aldo Kumar with the Gallina quartet, and final song by the Dan D band.
