French electronics retailer Darty has announced plans to invest €10 million in Portugal, with the goal of opening 40 new stores in the country by 2030, according to a report from Jornal de Negócios.
The expansion strategy was revealed in the Portuguese business publication on Thursday. The investment marks a significant commitment to the Portuguese market for the retailer, which operates under the FNAC Darty group.
The announcement comes alongside separate regulatory developments involving Darty's parent group in Portugal. Portugal's competition authority, the Autoridade da Concorrência (AdC), has approved a transaction between Staples and FNAC Darty, as reported by Jornal Económico. That approval clears the way for the acquisition of 11 Staples stores in Portugal by Darty, according to Echo Boomer and Observador.
One of those locations is in Santarém, where Darty will reinforce its presence through the purchase of a Staples store, per Notícias do Sorraia. The AdC's green light removes a key hurdle for the store transfers, which are part of a broader consolidation in the country's electronics retail sector.
The €10 million investment for 40 new stores is a separate but complementary initiative to the Staples acquisition. Together, the moves signal that Darty is looking to significantly expand its physical footprint in Portugal over the next several years.
The company has not specified which regions will host the new stores or provided a timeline for when the first openings might occur. The Staples store purchases, however, are expected to proceed following the competition authority's approval.
Observers will be watching for details on store locations and whether the expansion will reshape Portugal's electronics retail landscape ahead of the 2030 target.
