Photo source: dm-drogerie markt d.o.o.

Sales of cosmetic and toiletry products in Croatia are recording strong growth, as confirmed by the results of the three leading drugstore chains: dm, Müller and Bipa.

The total revenues of these companies in 2023 reached around 930 million euros, which is almost 300 million euros more than the year before, confirming the accelerated development of this market segment in Croatia, states tportal.hr.

The largest market share in Croatia is held by dm-drogerie markt, a German chain that has operated in the country since the mid-1990s. Today it manages more than 175 stores and employs around 2,000 people. Financial data for the period from October 2023 to September 2024 show revenue of 440.62 million euros, with profit growth of more than 40 percent, amounting to 11.77 million euros.

For comparison, dm generated revenue of 299.11 million euros in 2022, which means that in two years it increased turnover by more than 30 percent. The average net salary of dm employees in Croatia last year amounted to 1,688 euros, which is an increase of 7.67 percent compared to the previous year.

Müller, also a German company, is dm's biggest competitor on the Croatian market. With 92 stores and around 1,200 employees, Müller generated revenue of 342.73 million euros last year, which is an increase of 7.41 percent. Profit amounted to 24.21 million euros, while the average employee salary is 1,216 euros.

Bipa, the third major player whose headquarters are also in Germany, is part of the Rewe group. In Croatia, Bipa has more than 140 branches and employs almost 900 people. It ended last year with 145.53 million euros in revenue and 3.53 million euros in profit. In recent years, Bipa has recorded strong expansion, with average annual turnover growth of around 20 percent.

The profitability analysis shows that Müller has the highest profit margin among the leading drugstores in Croatia, amounting to 7.5 percent. Dm and Bipa achieve a margin of around 2.5 percent, indicating different business models and strategies among competitors.

All three companies continue to invest in business expansion, increasing the number of employees and improving working conditions, which further encourages the growth and competitiveness of the drugstore sector in Croatia.

Source: tportal.hr