Early Life
Juan Roig Alfonso was born on October 8, 1949, in Valencia, Spain. He came from a family that ran a chain of butcher shops, which were later converted to grocery stores. Roig studied economics at the University of Valencia and later completed a postgraduate degree at IESE Business School.
Rise to Success
In 1981, Juan Roig, along with his three brothers, bought the family's shops from their parents. They expanded the business into the Mercadona supermarket chain. Roig largely bought out his brothers in 1991. Under Roig's leadership, the company introduced technological advancements, such as barcode scanners, and is acclaimed for its efficient distribution systems. Mercadona is known for its competitive pricing strategy. By 2006, Mercadona had opened its 1,000th store. As of November 2024, his net worth was estimated at $6 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Roig introduced full-time contracts for all employees in the late 1990s. Mercadona's success is based on its strategy of competitive pricing and technological innovations. Mercadona's nearly 100,000 employees receive about a 20% share of the company's pretax profits.
Philanthropy
Through his wholly owned company Alquería Capital, Roig supports Proyecto Lanzadera, which helps young entrepreneurs set up their businesses. He also sponsors the professional basketball team Valencia Basket. In November 2024, Juan Roig created 'Alcem-se Esport' and donated 4 million euros to support and revive the sporting ecosystem in the province of Valencia.
