How GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member Jerónimo Martins is fortifying its supply chain with its own production

How GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member Jerónimo Martins is fortifying its supply chain with its own production

Food distributor and specialized retailer group Jerónimo Martins is now a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member. Explore how it combines production, trading, and retail activities to promote strategic food security and balance the economic sustainability of the business with its environmental impacts.

The Jerónimo Martins namesake

In 1792, an entrepreneurial young Galician opened a modest store in Lisbon, Portugal. More than 230 years later, the Jerónimo Martins Group still carries his name and has evolved into a cornerstone of the global food industry.

Driven by a commitment to fostering healthier societies through accessible, safe, and affordable food products, the Jerónimo Martins Group now operates over 5,700 stores, each embodying the legacy of its founder's entrepreneurial ethos. The group’s presence spans six countries, concentrated mostly in Portugal, Colombia, and Poland.

Striving for food security

In 2014, in a move to ensure a consistent supply of quality products, the Jerónimo Martins Group established its own agri-food production entity, Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar (JMA). By entering into strategic partnerships to grow organic produce, the group reinforces its commitment to fostering food security via safe and affordable products.

As of 2021, JMA has expanded its production capabilities beyond Portugal, embracing a mission that harmonizes economic sustainability with environmental responsibility. JMA now operates across four key sectors: dairy, livestock, aquaculture, and fruits and vegetables. Building on the success of its partnership producing organic seedless grapes, launched in 2023 and now under GLOBALG.A.P. certification, JMA will now add organic orange production to its portfolio. This will be the largest organic orange grove in Portugal, with the first harvest expected in 2025.

Joining the GLOBALG.A.P. Community

Jerónimo Martins joins the GLOBALG.A.P. Community from the combined viewpoint of a major food buyer, producer, and retailer. In all these stages of its value chain, Jerónimo Martins is committed to promoting sustainable practices from an environmental, social, and economic point of view.

By engaging with a diverse community of producers, retailers, and certification bodies, Jerónimo Martins seeks to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, laying the foundation for widespread adoption of responsible farming practices.

Susana Fernandes, Operations Quality Senior Manager at Jerónimo Martins, emphasizes the significance of GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership for the group, stating, "Access to the development of benchmarks is very important not only because there is greater visibility and knowledge of what can be included, but also because engaging with other members strengthens cooperation, and we know very well that working together with other players in the sector is a relevant tool for promoting best practices and disseminating them among our suppliers.”

GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH Managing Director Elmé Coetzer-Boersma also notes, “As a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member, Jerónimo Martins stands at the forefront of the global food distribution landscape. Through strategic partnerships, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable practices, Jerónimo Martins continues to redefine the future of food distribution, ensuring a brighter, more resilient tomorrow for generations to come.”

Related links

• Learn more about Jerónimo Martins on their website

• Explore our membership webpage to learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership and discover other members from our 400+ strong community