Mercator Group

Poslovni sistem Mercator d.o.o., commonly known as Mercator, is the leading retail company in Slovenia and the controlling entity of the Mercator Group, a prominent FMCG retailer wholly owned by Croatia's Fortenova Group since 2022. Founded in 1949 as Živila Ljubljana, a wholesale company, it was renamed Mercator in 1953 and has grown into the largest retailer in Slovenia by revenue and store network.

Mercator specializes in the retail of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), including food, beverages, and household essentials, with a strong emphasis on fresh produce, private label products, and customer loyalty programs like the Pika card. The company operates a multi-format network across Slovenia, featuring hypermarkets for comprehensive shopping, supermarkets for everyday needs, convenience stores such as Mercator Neighbour for quick purchases, and Cash & Carry wholesale centers serving professional customers. Complementary services include self-service petrol stations under M-Energija (Maxen brand) and specialized homeware stores (formerly M Tehnika).

• Store Network in Slovenia: Approximately 466 directly managed retail units plus 163 franchise stores (as of 2021 data), making it the most extensive in the country.
• Innovations: Pioneered e-commerce with Mercator Online, self-service checkouts, mobile scanning via M Sken app, and Moj M platform with M Pay wallet.
• Production: Owns Mercator-Emba for baked goods and Mercator IP for other food products, ensuring quality supply for food and drinks categories.

The company maintains a customer-centric approach, focusing on local partnerships, fresh food offerings, and digital enhancements to attract shoppers. Mercator's regional presence extends to Serbia (as Idea and Roda), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, but its Slovenian operations remain core, with over 1,000 stores group-wide employing more than 20,000 people. Recent strategies include network optimization, closing underperforming small stores to enhance efficiency while securing jobs through relocations.

For suppliers in food, drinks, and beauty sectors, Mercator offers robust distribution through its dense Slovenian network, loyalty-driven sales, and innovative formats ideal for FMCG partnerships. Its market leadership positions it as a key gateway for manufacturers targeting Slovenian consumers.