Jumbo delivered another month of steady growth in May 2026, with total sales rising by about 4%, a pace that was also maintained over the January-May period, in a time of prolonged geopolitical tension and higher uncertainty.
Retail sales normalized in May, although some markets remained under pressure, most notably Romania. Sales to franchise and wholesale partners also slowed compared with last year, reflecting both caution in the market and tougher comparisons against a very strong 2025 base.
Last year, those channels benefited from the normalization of orders after the supply-chain disruption caused by the Suez Canal crisis. That made the year-on-year comparison tougher in 2026, even where underlying demand remained relatively stable.
Greece and Bulgaria lead
In Greece, net sales at the parent company rose by about 4% in May and 6% over the five-month period. Cyprus also showed a recovery, with sales up 9% in May and 3.5% in January-May, supported by both physical stores and e-commerce.
Bulgaria remained one of the stronger markets in the group, posting growth of 16% in May and 11% over the five months, again across stores and the online channel. Romania was the only market to post a clear decline, with sales down about 2% in May and 6%in the five-month period.
