The decision was made "after sustained efforts to make the company viable," the group announced.

In a statement, the group that owns Pingo Doce explains that, "after in-depth analysis and sustained efforts to make the company viable, which ultimately were unsuccessful, it made the difficult decision to discontinue the operation of Hussel."

To justify the decision to close Hussel's operation, it points to the insolvency of its German partner, the increase in rent prices, and the rise in the price of cocoa, stating that "the lasting impact led to the understanding that the company is facing an unsustainable situation without any well-founded prospects of reversibility."

The insolvency, in 2024, of the German partner Hussel GmbH "ultimately brought an end to the collaboration that sustained the operation in Portugal, generating supply problems and loss of scale," it lists.

In addition, the sharp rise in costs, particularly those related to rent, proved insurmountable, coupled with strong and continued pressure on the price of cocoa, combined with falling production, and the increasing regulatory trend.

Jerónimo Martins says it guarantees "job stability" for Hussel workers in one of the group's companies