© Copyright 2025 COOP Jednota Slovakia, All rights reserved.
Business name: COOP Jednota Slovensko, spotrebné družstvo
Registered: Obchodný register Mestského súdu Bratislava III
(Municipal Court Bratislava III Business Register, section Dr., insert no. 218/B
Company history:
Legal form: cooperative
Number of members by 31 December 2024: 30 consumer cooperatives
To provide support and service to our members and franchisees, to act as a purchasing, service and marketing centre of the COOP Jednota group, to defend and represent cooperative interests before state authorities, interest organizations and business partners.
The purpose of existence is sustainable retail of food and related services for customers and members of cooperatives. To continue the spirit of this more than 150-year-old tradition and legacy of mutual food and credit cooperatives which came to existence since 1845.
The relevance of sustainability:
By fulfilling its mission, COOP Jednota Slovensko wants to ensure that the COOP Jednota group:
Strategic priorities of COOP Jednota
Fundamental principles of cooperation in COOP Jednota
In 2024, regional COOP Jednota-s achieved a retail turnover of more than EUR 2 billion for the first time in their history. The total retail turnover was EUR 2.042 billion which is an increase by 4.4 % compared to 2023. COOP Jednota-s revenue reached EUR 1.767 billion with a year-on-year growth of 4.0 %. The COOP Jednota group logistics centres sales amounted to a total of EUR 0.857 billion, which was by 5.6 % more than previous year. The COOP Jednota group total sales reached EUR 2.624 billion in 2024, which is an increase by 4.5 % compared to 2023. COOP Jednota-s invested a total of EUR 49.1 million in the modernization of their stores in 2024. The COOP Jednota retail network opened 15 new stores and refurbished 81 ones. The 100th store of the Tempo SUPERMARKET format offering customers a wide range of products, modern equipment and eco-technologies was opened in October 2024.
The year 2024 was also significant for the COOP Jednota system as the year of digital transformation and the launch of the store automation project. The first COOP Jednota 24/7 automated store was opened by COOP Jednota Galanta in the municipality of Šalgočka. A total of 4 such stores was opened by the end of 2024 and several consumer cooperatives are planning further expansion of COOP Jednota 24/7 stores into both urban and rural areas.
Inflation significantly slowed down in Slovakia in 2024. The average annual inflation rate was 2.8 % which is the major year-on-year slowdown in the last 25 years. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by an average of 2.5 % while housing and energy prices increased by only 0.5 %. This development has had a positive impact on household purchasing power and consumer behaviour. On the other hand, competitive pressure was increasing especially due to the expected entry of a new external chain into the Slovak market. This entry may mean greater pressure on Slovak food producers and retail chains.
Despite an increasing pressure by external competition, COOP Jednota remains true to its strategic goal and intends to continue offering primarily quality Slovak products without resorting to price wars that could threaten domestic production. Slovak food accounted for up to 71 % of total sale in COOP Jednota stores in 2024. The COOP Jednota system cooperates with more than 1,300 Slovak suppliers and it is clearly the leader in the share of sale of Slovak food among all retail chains in Slovakia. The COOP Jednota stores sell exclusively Slovak bryndza and eggs while almost 100 % of chicken meat and milk originates in Slovakia.
The domestic COOP Jednota chain plans to continue modernizing its operations, expanding the SUPERMARKET and Tempo SUPERMARKET formats, and opening new stores with 24/7 operation in 2025 to better meet the needs of its customers and strengthen its position on the market. COOP Jednota is the largest domestic retail chain combining modern business trends with cooperative movement tradition, in Slovakia. In 2025, which the UN declared the International Year of Cooperatives, the COOP Jednota system will continue promoting the principles of sustainability, cooperation, and regional economic development.
Retail chains
One of the priorities of the COOP Jednota system is to be the closest to its customers and to ensure shop presence even in places where other retail chains operating on the Slovak market have no ambition to open new stores. COOP Jednota, the largest and densest retail network in Slovakia, is composed of three formats, i.e. Tempo SUPERMARKET, SUPERMARKET and POTRAVINY, which include a total of 1,954 stores.
The POTRAVINY (GROCERY SHOP) chain, which is the most widespread in Slovakia, has its assortment composition and store size tailored to the needs of customers in the countryside and small towns. In 2024, the POTRAVINY chain of the COOP Jednota system included 1,248 stores.
The SUPERMARKET chain format offers customers comfortable shopping experience in 605 stores of an area of 200 m2 to 500 m2 located almost all over Slovakia. The number of stores in this format is increasing from year to year.
The emergence of the COOP Jednota Tempo SUPERMARKET format is the response to the goal of building a supermarket with a wide range of quality and fresh products which would satisfy even the most demanding customers. These stores have an area of over 500 m2 and in 2024, the COOP Jednota system operated a total of 101 stores of this format. The intention of the Tempo SUPERMARKET chain is to bring customers something extra every day, to offer quality goods and services, to promptly respond to their demand, to offer a wide range of fresh goods, products of our COOP Jednota private label, including premium ones, various novelties, as well as an assortment of household manufactured goods.
The opening of COOP Jednota 24/7 automated stores was a novelty introduced within the domestic COOP Jednota retail network in 2024. Four automated non-stop operations were opened to customers in 2024. Stores of the COOP domestic network are supplied from 9 logistics centres.
We continued strengthening our position of the Slovak leader in the food market by putting emphasis on strengthening image attributes such as tradition, Slovakness, accessibility and friendliness as part of our communication strategy in 2024. At the same time, we focused on the freshness, quality and affordability of our products. Communicating novelties in the COOP Jednota loyalty program, introducing a new e-shop and mobile application were another important goal. Our intention was to continue putting our effort into positioning the COOP Jednota brand as a traditional domestic chain with the largest selection of Slovak, local and fresh products at the most affordable prices, which is close to people and knows their everyday needs. The 2024 communication mix was based on alternating image campaigns with activation campaigns. The basic elements included our private labels, traditional consumer competitions, loyalty programs and sales support. The objective pursued was to effectively communicate selected image attributes such as freshness, Slovakness, affordability, private labels and modernity which we supported through technological innovations. The communication of the domestic COOP Jednota network is covered by the Bača and Honelník (the Shepherd and His Helper) concept which has become an integral part of Slovak retail. This funny couple from a shepherd’s hut premiered in 2010 and has since become an icon of the brand. The concept combines humour, tradition and innovation. Thanks to its unmistakable and strong design, COOP Jednota has been winning awards in many competitions and it has remained one of the most popular advertising concepts in Slovakia.
The COOP Jednota system has been offering its private label products to its customers already for 25 years. Over the years, the product portfolio has been shaped and refined in an effort to offer customers quality products mainly from Slovak suppliers at favourable prices as an ideal alternative to branded products. In 2024, the private label portfolio included 765 products, most of which were delivered by Slovak suppliers. The wide range of products is regularly reviewed and added new products. The COOP Jednota system regularly participates with its private labels in professional and consumer surveys and competitions. Company private label products won awards in various prestigious national and international competitions in 2024. The COOP Sucháriky tradičné (Traditional Rusk) 140 g product from the Traditional Quality “Label Packaging” limited edition was nominated for the Packaging of the Year 2024 international competition. The packaging was awarded the CENA SYMPATIE (JURY'S RECOGNITION AWARD) for the use of new technologies and eco-approach. The products COOP Tyčinky točené, solené (Sticks Twisted, Salted) 250g – Mamičkine dobroty (Mom’s Goodies), COOP Mini piškóty (Mini Sponge Biscuits) 120g – COOP Premium Czechoslovak edition and COOP Maliny (Raspberries) 125g – ZELOVOC received awards as the best new and innovated products in the Consumers’ Choice program – The Best Novelty in 2024.
The COOP Jednota Klub loyalty program has been innovated and digitally transformed every year. The customer account gives an overview of the benefits of the loyalty program, allows customers to update their personal data online, request a duplicate card in case of damage, loss or theft of their loyalty card and also offers the option of activating an e-document. Use of electronic cash receipts has saved several tons of paper every year. We offered our customers a new mobile application linked to the customer account in 2024. Customers will find all essential information about their loyalty card and purchases there. The launch of the new mobile application was combined with the “Appkáči” (Apps Users) image campaign and a competition for instant prizes, shopping vouchers, and gift vouchers from partners in the form of vouchers in the mobile application. We have already carried out several successful campaigns combined with competitions offering the users an opportunity to win a gift voucher, a shopping voucher or participation in the final draw for valuable prizes, in the new COOP Jednota Klub application since its launch. The wheel of win has become very popular. We plan to continue improving the app and gradually add new functionalities to give the “Appkáč-s” a better shopping experience. The primary benefit of the loyalty program continues to be the possibility of getting loyalty discount on purchases registered on the loyalty card. Holders may claim their discount as a deduction from the purchase amount twice a year, usually during Christmas and Easter. COOP Jednota registered more than 1 million loyalty card holders by 31 December 2024.
The full-colour Jednota monthly magazine was first issued in 2003; since then, it has been through dynamic development. Once a month, the 32 pages of the magazine bring the customers relaxation in the form of articles and practical advice with an emphasis on the activities of COOP Jednota and individual consumer cooperatives. The most significant change the magazine experienced in 2024 was a clearly visible change in the graphic design of the cover page. The graphic redesign breathed lightness, greater clarity into the magazine and lifted it up to the level of contemporary modern periodicals. The magazine’s 2024 priority was communicating COOP Jednota status as the largest Slovak food retailer with the highest share of domestic food. The magazine monitored events in the consumer cooperative system, successes, novelties, marketing and our Foundation activities and progress in social responsibility. The choice of topics emphasized Slovakness which naturally tallies with the starting points of the consumer cooperative
system. The lifestyle section sought to connect with the reader by presenting health topics, interviews with inspiring people, recipes from the popular Untraditional Recipes online project and household tips. The magazine introduced a new series with an expert called 10 Facts about Food and presented interesting facts from Slovak history and traditions. The Jednota magazine is available to its readers directly in the COOP Jednota stores throughout Slovakia as an expression of gratitude for customer loyalty.
In the COOP Jednota stores, we try to keep up with modern technologies that make shopping for our customers more pleasant and the work of our staff easier. Customers have high demands and expectations of Slovak stores and we want to continue meeting them. Our customers expect not only sufficiently broad assortment and nice shops but also elements making their shopping more comfortable. In the COOP Jednota system, we have been introducing technological novelties and innovations in selected stores that simplify the work of the store staff and also contribute to the protection of the environment and make everyday shopping easier for our customers since 2013.
Technical innovations in the COOP Jednota network include: electronic price tags, LED price tags for fruit and vegetables, self-service checkouts, e-receipt, musical marketing, online and/ or mobile shopping. We are also expanding our network of charging stations for electric vehicles. By taking this approach, we want to give customers who own electric cars the comfort of being able to charge their car while shopping with us. A total of 20 electric charging stations were installed in our system in 2024. Stores having photovoltaic panels or green roofs in place are also a manifestation of our environment friendly approach. We have 228 stores with photovoltaics and 8 stores with green roofs in our domestic chain.
We offer our customers various additional services such as COOPkasa, CashBack and uploading mobile credit in our stores. Thanks to the COOPkasa service, customers may pay various types of invoices at the checkout (e.g. invoices from mobile operators, energy costs, local fees); otherwise, they would have to go to a different place. Customers have the option to pay invoices while shopping, even on weekends, and they can choose between paying in cash or by credit card. To save their time, customers of our stores have a cash-back service available, due to which they are able to withdraw cash directly at the checkout. This service is especially popular among COOP Jednota customers in municipalities where there are no ATMs. The maximum amount of cash withdrawals is EUR 50 and it is tied to a purchase worth at least EUR 5. The requirement for enjoying these benefits is to be a holder of a payment card. In 2024, the COOP Jednota network included a gift card in three nominal values: € 20, € 50 and € 100, into their offer. It is valid in all stores in the COOP Jednota system.
Environment policy and an environmentally sound approach are important strategic pillars of the COOP Jednota domestic retail chain. The domestic network focuses on satisfying the needs of customers in a way which has minimum negative impact on the environment. For the sake of this goal, COOP Jednota organizes separate collection of used and non-functional fluorescent lamps and batteries for its customers in stores, which are equipped with separate plastic collection containers where customers may dispose of these items free of charge. 25,116.02 kg of used batteries and 21,994 pcs of used non-functional fluorescent lamps, which represents 1,425.85 kg, were collected in COOP Jednota stores in 2024. COOP Jednota has also environment friendly alternatives to plastic bags, namely paper bags, cotton bags, cloth bags as well as bags made of eco or recycled materials for their customers.
The COOP Jednota network is continuously dedicating a lot of effort to the protection of the environment and it is investing in new environment friendly technologies and energy equipment. It invests in new refrigerating equipment based on a CO2 refrigerant as well as in closed equipment that can save more than 20 % of electric energy. By expanding environment friendly technological devices, such as electronic price tags and LED price tags in COOP Jednota stores, the paper and toner, both of which are defined as hazardous waste, requirement is being reduced. The stores work on replacing conventional fluorescent lamps with LED lamps which have 2 to 3 times higher light output efficiency and lower electricity consumption compared to ordinary light sources. At the same time, COOP Jednota strives for minimizing the carbon footprint and energy requirement in its operations by optimizing energy management. Temperature and humidity measurement systems from Slovanet a.s. and Orange Slovensko a.s. are being introduced at our operations since 2020. These systems provide an overview of energy consumption, storage and, in case of irregularities also send notifications, at the level of individual operations. In this way, energy requirement can be optimized and directly reduced. Measuring devices are already installed in 508 stores of the Tempo SUPERMARKET and SUPERMARKET formats and are being installed in other stores.
The COOP Jednota makes unfailing effort to expand the network of deposit refund collection points throughout Slovakia since the introduction of the deposit refund scheme on 1 January 2022 to bring collection points to customers at a convenient distance from home. The domestic COOP Jednota retail chain has the highest number of collection points of all retail chains in Slovakia. Out of the 3,435 collection points available in the Slovak Republic by 31 December 2024, almost a half, to be accurate 1,636 points, are in the Jednota COOP network. Up to 1,315 stores in the COOP Jednota network, which is the most among all retail chains in Slovakia, voluntarily participated in the deposit refund scheme. The deposit refund scheme is an investment with a positive impact on the environment and entire society. At the same time, the deposit refund scheme is an opportunity to spread an environment friendly approach through collection points to all regions of Slovakia.
Medzinárodná nákupná aliancia COOP EURO, a.s. (The COOP EURO international purchasing alliance) was founded by the following three cooperating Central European retail organizations in 2000:
COOP EURO is a modern European company providing national COOP headquarters unique opportunities in integrated commercial and complementary activities. The importance of the company stands on a strong business partnership, sharing of business know-how and comprehensive knowledge of the combined market and regional specific features. The company operates with its COOP Premium private label in three important Central European markets. This private label offers consumers premium quality and complements private labels of the national members of the Alliance. The goal pursued by unfailing building and developing the COOP Premium private label is to offer its shareholders and consumers a strong and modern retail label. This product line will satisfy the expectations of customers having the most demanding requirements. These products are characterized by a favourable price compared to premium brands and by high quality. A total of 122 products were included in this category by the end of 2024.
COOP Jednota Slovensko, consumer cooperative, employed a total of 75 employees, of which almost 60% were women, by 31 December 2024. The number of all employees in the COOP Jednota system, including logistics centres, was more than 14,000, of which 80 % were women, by 31 December 2024. Out of the total number of employees of consumer cooperatives, more than 11,600 employees worked in stores by 31 December 2024. The strategy of human resources management and development is based on strict observance of the equal opportunity principle. Almost 50 % of management positions in consumer cooperatives are held by women. An essential part of human resources management and development is the education and development of employees. In 2024, investments into this area reached almost EUR 450 thousand. We continued to actively interconnect sales and human resources development through regional projects as well as a nationwide project focused on the professional behaviour of staff in stores in 2024. In the framework of development
programs such as Adaptive Leadership, COOP Academy of Inspector’s Work, COOP Mentoring and others, we supported managerial skills and capabilities with an emphasis on strengthening leadership, management integrity and professionalism. In terms of number of training days, management training represented almost 40 % of the volume of education. The remaining educational activities were focused on developing expertise at all levels of management. We consistently work on supporting existing professional skills and the acquisition of new ones to optimize and/or improve internal processes while complying with the existing legislative and internal standards. A group of internal lecturers completed specialized and lecturing skills development workshops and, at the same time, intensively passed on their knowledge and acquired work skills in merchandising, category management and food safety during training courses.
We continued our proven model in the education and development of store managers and deputy managers; in this model we pay attention to juniority and seniority in terms of previous employee practical experience because the individual needs and development requirements are more effectively taken into account in the target groups created in this way. In addition to the quality of training content, we care to create opportunities for sharing successful solutions – the so-called “best practice” and mutual inspiration for work. We also give preference to implementing digitalization and actively using the EDUMIO internal online platform and the SEDUO external platform in education and development.
Higher-level collective agreement
The higher-level collective agreement (HLCA) applies to 26 selected consumer cooperatives and logistics centres that are members of the Organizácia zamestnávateľov skupiny COOP Jednota (Employers’ Organization of the COOP Jednota Group). A valid HLCA was signed with the Commerce and Tourism Workers Trade Union for the period 2022 – 2025 in 2024. This agreement takes into account the current and expected economic development in Slovakia in pursuance of maintaining social harmony and preventing social tension. The HLCA sets minimum rules for a fair social dialogue and lays down wage, social and labour rights of employees as well as other rights granted by employers. The HLCA is the base from which company collective agreements between individual members of the Employers' Organization of the COOP Jednota Group and the relevant trade unions are derived. Most COOP Jednota-s and logistics centres have more favourable conditions than those set out in the HLCA agreed under their company collective agreements. The implementation of the HLCA is regularly assessed at least once a year. In view of principles of social harmony assessment, it may be concluded that there has been a longterm fair cooperation between employers and trade unions in COOP Jednota-s and the logistics centres of the COOP Jednota group.
Consumers’ Choice – The best novelty in 2024
COOP Jednota succeeded in three categories in the Voľba spotrebiteľov – Najlepšia novinka 2024 (Consumers’ Choice – the Best Novelty in 2024) consumer survey. COOP maliny (Raspberries) – ZELOVOC was the winning product in the Fruits and Fruit Juices category. COOP Mini piškóty (Mini Sponge Biscuits) – Československá edícia (Czechoslovak Edition) – COOP PREMIUM won the first place in the Sponge Biscuits category and COOP Tyčinky točené, solené (Sticks Twisted, Salted) of Mamičkine dobroty (Mom’s Goodies) private label was the first in the Savory Snacks category
Superbrands 2024
In 2024, the expert jury and Slovak consumers again awarded the COOP Jednota brand with the Superbrands Slovakia 2024 award. COOP Jednota defended its position in an independent evaluation of the most successful brands on the Slovak market and again won the super brand award. The title is awarded by an expert jury to a brand that reflects the strength and excellence of the brand, the ability to innovate, advance and inspire others. The goal of the Superbrands program is also to bring to the attention of consumers and professional public exceptionally strong brands present on the Slovak market.
2023 Hermes Communicator
The award by the expert jury of the Hermes Communicator of the Year competition is also a proof of the popularity of COOP Jednota private labels. The COOP Jednota domestic retail chain won the Hermes Communicator of the Year 2023 Award for the fastest deposit refund machine in Central Europe in the Innovative Marketing Project category in the 10th anniversary year of the Hermes Communicator of the Year competition. The fastest collecting machine was put into operation at Dunajská Lužná in December 2023.
The Top Company for Young People
COOP Jednota Slovensko, s.d. ranked first among trading companies in the latest 2024 TOP Company for Young People survey regularly organized by the Junior Chamber International Slovakia. This first place was won in the category of retail chains – food products. The survey was held for the 22nd time at 20 faculties of universities in the whole of Slovakia. The representative sample consisted of 1,500 university and college students.
Salute to the 2024 Excellence Award
The COOP Jednota system also regularly represents Slovak commerce and trade at the largest global private label competition, the Salute to Excellence Award held in Amsterdam. The competition is organized by the Private Label Manufacturers Association PLMA, which has been bringing together private label sellers and producers from around the world since 1979. All enrolled COOP Jednota products came in among the first ten products in the current competition in which more than 500 products in 90 categories from 64 chains from 20 countries competed.
Obal roka 2024 (Packaging of the Year 2024)
Packaging of the Year is a prestigious and certified competition that annually celebrates the best innovation, creativity and sustainability in the packaging industry. The Packaging of the Year competition, certified by the global organization World Packaging Organization, is the gateway to the WorldStar Packaging Awards. This year marked the 31st year of the competition. The packaging of the COOP Sucháriky tradičné (Traditional Rusk) 140 g product from COOP Jednota Traditional Quality private label won the Jury's Recognition Prize. The expert jury appreciated the fact that even in a private label, where the emphasis is on bargain purchases, innovative single-use packaging easily recyclable and sustainable was chosen. A crucial environmental benefit of the new packaging is that almost a third less packaging material was used to wrap the product.
COOP Jednota Foundation
The COOP Jednota Foundation was established with the intention of providing targeted assistance in public benefit areas in 2001. Its activity builds on the essential building blocks of the cooperative movement, which primarily include mutual aid and support of local development. The activities of the Foundation are based on three fundamental pillars: togetherness and mutual support, culture and traditions, people and health. Its main goal is, therefore, the support of healthcare, assistance to sick and disabled persons, stimulation and support of the development of local and regional initiatives as well as support and development of education, sports and culture. Achieving its goalsis possible thanks to contributions coming from a percentage of the tax paid donated by natural persons and legal entities and thanks to direct donations by its supporters. In the 23 years of its work, the Foundation gave its helping hand to many people and organizations in Slovakia. This aid expressed in financial terms amounts to almost EUR 6 million.
Healthcare and social assistance
The COOP Jednota Foundation strives to improve the quality of medical treatment processes for the widest possible spectrum of patients through the purchase of medical devices for hospitals and medical facilities in all regions of Slovakia. The Foundation contributed more than EUR 81,000 to the improvement of patient care in ten Slovak hospitals in 2024.
Financial contributions were received by Fakultná nemocnica s poliklinikou Nové Zámky (Nové Zámky University Hospital with Outpatient Clinic), Združenie pre pomoc deťom s epilepsiou a inými neurologickými ochoreniami (the Association for Helping Children with Epilepsy and Other Neurological Diseases) in Bratislava, IV-MAR-MA s.r.o., emocnica Agel (AGEL Hospital) Komárno, Fakultná nemocnica s poliklinikou F. D. Roosevelta (F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital with Outpatient Clinic) Banská Bystrica, Kysucká nemocnica s poliklinikou (Kysuce Hospital with Outpatient Clinic) Čadca, Nemocnica Dr. Vojtecha Alexandra (Dr. Vojtech Alexander Hospital) in Kežmarok, Nemocnica Snina (Snina Hospital), Nemocnica s poliklinikou Prievidza so sídlom v Bojniciach (Prievidza Hospital with Outpatient Clinic based in Bojnice) and Onkologický ústav Sv. Alžbety (the St. Elizabeth Oncology Institute) in Bratislava.
Nadácia COOP Jednota foundation provided financial aid as part of its targeted social assistance to 42 applicants from all over Slovakia in 2024 – mainly to families with seriously sick children and adults with serious diagnoses, in the total amount of EUR 30,000.
Local community support program
It is only natural that people are also at the forefront of this Foundation programme. Its goal is to stimulate and support their participation in local and regional development by building small structures, such as community gardens, gazebos, shelters, playgrounds, by planting and maintaining greenery and promoting Slovak traditions. The 8th year of this programme received more than 1,500 applications from which regional commissions selected 78 most interesting projects. The winning 26 projects in 26 villages and towns were chosen by the residents of the regions themselves by voting. The Foundation distributed almost EUR 156,000 among the winning projects. Thanks to the Nadácia COOP Jednota foundation and the long-standing partners of this programme: Budiš, a.s., Unilever Slovensko, s.r.o., RAJO, a.s., COOP Jednota Slovensko, spotrebné družstvo, and of course, due to the engagement of people, beautiful projects worth more than EUR 1.2 mil. grew up in municipalities in the whole of Slovakia over the past seven years.