Eroski CEO Rosa Carabel warns 30% rise in grocery basket costs, plans 30‑40 new stores

Rosa Carabel, the first woman to lead Eroski and the first female chief executive of a major Spanish retail chain, said the cost of a typical grocery basket in 2022 is now about 30% higher. She explained that returning to pre‑crisis price levels will be very difficult because of higher energy, logistics and wage expenses.

Carabel outlined the group's expansion plan, targeting the opening of 30 to 40 new stores in Galicia, Asturias and Castile and León over the next four years. She also highlighted sector‑wide challenges such as a shortage of workers and rising absenteeism, calling absenteeism "a problem of the country" that a single company cannot solve. In Eroski, women now make up 77% of the workforce and 74% of management, though Carabel noted remaining gaps in gender balance across roles.