Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentación, S.A. is a Spanish international hard-discount supermarket chain founded in 1979 which as of 2012 operates 6,914 stores internationally, making it Europe's third largest food sector franchiser. It has also owned Schlecker in Spain and Portugal since 2013.
Background
Dia is a discount supermarket chain which follows a policy of reduction of prices by means of minimizing operational costs. The furniture and decoration of the store are minimal. Costs are also reduced by limiting the choice of products to a narrow selection of European brand name and white-label Dia brand goods. The chain also sells small appliances. Its policy of communication is based on mass media campaigns as well as periodic flyers featuring products which are on special sale. The Dia chain was created in Spain in 1979, and has undertaken an ambitious plan of international expansion with standard Dia stores in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Greece and Turkey, in Portugal with "Minipreço" stores and in France with "Ed" standard. In 2003 Dia opened stores in the People's Republic of China, where the number of openings in a year reached 300 stores. In Senegal, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, stores have been opened under the brand "citydia", with rapid growth being projected. Dia opened its stores in Paraguay in November 2016. The provide philosophy by Dia is to adapt each store to the needs of the local population. At the end of March 2013 it had 6,914 stores, 46 distribution warehouses and approximately 47,500 employees worldwide, with a turnover of 11,124 million Euros. Dia also markets up to 7,500 Dia branded products internationally, including in countries where it has no stores such as Bulgaria and Senegal. From 2000 to 2011, Dia was part of the Carrefour Group but following its spin-off it became independent and debuted in Madrid's IBEX 35stock market on 2 January 2012. The Dia Group purchased the operation of Schlecker for 70.5 million Euros. In May 2019 the LetterOneinvestment fund increased its share in the Dia group to 69,76%, effectively taking control of the company.
France
In 2014, Dia sold the whole of its business in France, all 800 stores, to Carrefour for 600 million euros. Although the shops retain the Dia name and logo, Carrefour own-brand products are increasingly replacing Dia's.
