Esselunga brings its store count to five in Rome, with two openings coinciding with Claude Sarrailh's tenure at the helm of the group. Today, October 7th, the supermarket at Via Lattanzio 33, in the Balduina neighborhood, and the LaEsse store at Corso d'Italia 32, along the outer stretch of the Aurelian Walls connecting Porta Pinciana to Porta Pia, opened.
This is the new CEO and General Manager's first public appearance in his new role, which he officially assumed on October 2nd, bringing forward the initial start date of November. Sarrailh joins Esselunga from Ahold Delhaize, where he served as CEO of Europe and Indonesia, and brings experience gained at the top of international retail groups.
"The new openings in Rome demonstrate our ability and desire to grow by meeting customer needs," the manager stated. "I begin this journey with great enthusiasm and the goal of leveraging our existing expertise, further strengthening our performance, and spearheading the next phase of growth."
The two stores were acquired in recent months and are reopening after the necessary renovations to introduce Esselunga's range and services. The transaction therefore involves existing businesses and has ensured employment continuity through the direct hiring of the 47 employees from previous years: 37 in Via Lattanzio and ten in Corso d'Italia.
The Balduina Supermarket has a 635-square-meter sales area and offers approximately 6.000 items. The selection includes fish, meat, dairy products, and packaged cured meats, fruit, and vegetables, while the deli and bakery offer serviced counters. The Elisenda pastry shop also offers self-service packaged products, pre-order options, and home delivery.
The LaEsse store on Corso d'Italia, meanwhile, offers a neighborhood format dedicated to quick and frequent purchases. Its 215 square meters house approximately 3.000 items, with a selection of all major food categories. Deli and bakery items with a serviced counter, Elisenda pastry shop, and pre-order and home delivery are also available.
The openings are accompanied by an e-commerce promotion: from October 7th to November 18th inclusive, in Rome and Lazio, orders of at least €130 will be delivered without the €7,90 surcharge. Starting October 9th, the initiative will be extended to other Italian areas served by Esselunga.
The brand's presence in the capital dates back to 2017, with the opening of a superstore in the Prenestino neighborhood. Via Lattanzio and Corso d'Italia are now added to this store and the stores on Viale Liegi and Via Tomacelli. In Lazio, the group also operates in Aprilia, in the province of Latina, where a superstore opened in 2014.
The two openings are part of the group's consolidation in the Roman market, through different formats in terms of size and purchasing methods. The group has approximately 200 stores, over 28.000 employees, a turnover of €9,5 billion, and more than 5,6 million loyal customers.
