In its domestic market, JMR operates the biggest supermarket in Portugal, Pingo Doce, as well as hypermarket chain Feira, and is “outperforming its rivals”. But the “enormous success” of its Polish Biedronka discount stores, acquired in 1997, and now numbering almost 2,000- odd, impressed judges even more, with double-digit growth. Of the €650m JMR invested in 2012, 80% was in Biedronka, to fund 250 new stores, but like-for-likes were up 6.5%. 

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