The industrial area of MONDRAGON generated more than 2.600 jobs in 2017

2017 was a positive year for MONDRAGON. Its cooperatives exceeded the employment level of the previous year, with a total of 80.818 people, 0.7% more than in 2016. The industrial cooperatives created 2,691 jobs more than the previous year.

In 2017 MONDRAGON achieved 11.280 million euros in sales, a figure slightly lower (-1%) than the previous year. The investments amounted to 451 million euros. In the last five years the investment figures of the MONDRAGON cooperatives reached 1.963 million euros.

These magnitudes, and the behavior of the first quarter of this year, which is evolving favorably, suggest that this upward trend will continue in 2018.

The strength of the industry

The industrial cooperatives of MONDRAGON, which employed a staff of 37.020 people (2.691 more than the previous year), have concluded 2017 with a total aggregate turnover of 5.547 million euros (+ 8,1%) and results of 233 million euros, 9% lower than the previous year. This is mainly due to the increase in the price of raw materials, the appreciation of the euro and the opening of new plants abroad.

The employment trajectory of the Industry area in the last five years (2012-2017) has been remarkable. It has managed to create more than 7.000 new jobs. In addition, the cooperatives have been able to provide employment solutions to almost 100% of the 1.895 partners affected by the closure of Fagor Electrodomésticos. Mainly through relocations and early retirements.

The commitment to internationalization means that sales in foreign markets represent 70% of the industrial area. Last year there were new implementations in countries such as China, Mexico and Norway, so there are already 143 production subsidiaries abroad.

In addition, positive performance of the domestic market in the industrial field continues to be reflected in sales, which have increased to reach 1.693 million euros, an increase of 8,6% over the previous year.

The investments that have been made in the area of ​​Knowledge show that MONDRAGON continues betting on innovation. Last year, 169 million euros were invested in R&D, which means 3,0% of total sales. In addition, the Corporation employed 1.928 people full time in R&D and sales of new products and services reached 522 million euros, 9,4% of the sales figure of the industrial area.

Currently, MONDRAGON has 489 patent families in force, a really significant amount in the whole of the Basque Country. In addition, the cooperatives have submitted more than 100 proposals to various European R&D programs.

At the moment the MONDRAGON cooperatives have more than 50 projects approved and financed by the European Commission. In 2017, Smart was officially launched, the new Eureka cluster in advanced manufacturing, led by MONDRAGON and AFM. The objective of this cluster is the promotion of international R&D projects.

MONDRAGON continues to lead the Spanish Technological Platform of Advanced Manufacturing MANU-KET, which integrates advanced manufacturing with future technologies: advanced materials, biotechnology, photonics, micro-electronics and nanotechnologies.

EROSKI-automates platform

The Distribution area of ​​MONDRAGON, which includes Eroski and the Erkop group, earned 40 million euros in 2017 and continues to be the one that provides the most employment within the group. In total, 40.368 people work in this area, which last year recorded sales of 5.733 million, with a slight decrease over the previous year, mainly due to the fact that Eroski made divestments in its stores.

During the past year, Eroski also undertook renovations in many of its stores. In fact, 65% of sales were made in new generation stores. It also launched the Eroski Club Gold card, which was very well received by consumers. In addition, it continued with the expansion of the network of franchised stores, which currently employs more than 3.000 people.

The results of the financial year 2017 deserve a positive assessment, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with results of 33,2 million euros, which consolidate the path of recovery in recent years.

It was also a good year for cooperatives in the finance area. LABORAL Kutxa, the credit union of MONDRAGON, increased its consolidated profit by 9,1% compared to the previous year, reaching 121,4 million euros. It managed to maintain its comfortable liquidity and solvency ratios and improved its profitability (7.5%) and its delinquency ratio (5.09%). For its part, LagunAro EPSV ended the year with a total of 27.986 active mutualists, and a patrimonial fund that already reaches the figure of 6.477 million euros.

The president of MONDRAGON Iñigo Ucín, has highlighted "the investment capacity of the Corporation in the last five years, which has exceeded 1.963 million euros", as well as the capacity of the industry to generate employment.