At the Jerónimo Martins Group we believe that primary responsibility of a company is to create value. In the short, medium and long-term. So we do not dissociate value-creation from the development and real experience of the values. Our values, which shape our corporate mission, include Humanity, Merit, Entrepreneurship and Citizenship.
It has been extensively shown in recent times that ignoring the social and environmental impacts of a company’s activity can also be bad for business. In fact, when any company is no longer prepared to answer for its actions and the impacts of its decisions, it is no longer responsible.
I believe that the reputation and survival of companies in the 21st century are not only purely determined by market principles, but also by the social acceptance that they earn.
I believe that in an increasingly globalised world, no-one is excused from contributing towards the development of the Common Good and that, as a major economic player, we must be aware that profit must also be the result of responsible conduct, focused on generating more wealth, greater prosperity and more sustainability for the largest possible number of people.
Our history of more than two centuries’ of activity says a great deal about the responsible way in which we carry out our businesses and the medium and long-term vision which we incorporate into the decisions we take throughout the value chain.
At the Jerónimo Martins Group we seek a balance between the necessary economic prosperity and an active contribution towards social and economic development and environmental conservation in the regions where we do business.
As such, we are committed to the communities in the countries where we operate and to continuously improving our ability to meet current needs in such a way that future generations may also be able to meet their own needs.
We know that being leaders in food distribution in Portugal and Poland also brings further responsibility. But we firmly believe that the way in which we experience that responsibility is one of the cornerstones of competitive edge in the business world today.
Because companies are not islands that can survive independently from what is around them. Along with being able to listen, respond to and surprise the consumer, along with an excellent operational and financial performance, relations with the various affected and interested parties in an organisation’s activity are determining factors for its long-term competitiveness and success.
And the Jerónimo Martins is in the business to stay and to continue its history of growth and of truly creating prosperity!