MADRID, 14 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Inditex, Mercadona and El Corte Inglés are present among the 120 largest family businesses in the world, according to the latest edition of the World Family Business Index, prepared by EY and the University of St. Gallen.
Said report reveals that the most important family businesses globally grow twice as much as the main economies of the world, despite the moments of uncertainty that the economy is experiencing in general due to geopolitical tensions, inflation or the consequences of the crisis. of Covid-19.
These companies are in the same vein in Spain, which continue to advance with their prospects for economic growth, according to the report, which compiles information on the activity of the 500 most relevant family businesses globally, and includes the presence of the companies with the highest turnover in Spain, with three companies in the top 120, and a total of eleven in the ranking as a whole.
Specifically, the group founded by Amancio Ortega leads the podium among Spanish women for the first time (in 51st place in the general classification); Mercadona, second in Spain (and 54th in the global ranking); and the third, El Corte Inglés (ranked 117).
In addition, along with them, there are also Acciona, Gestamp, Ferrovial, Grifols, Catalana Occidente, Antolin-Irausa, Prosegur and Técnicas Reunidas.
Together, these eleven companies present a total turnover of 120,000 million euros of income and have 445,000 employees.
The total companies in the ranking, recognized for their level of innovation, agility and future purpose, generated more than 8 trillion dollars in turnover and employed 24.5 million people worldwide.
“In addition, these companies are recognized and are presented on the international scene as prepared to adapt to social and economic change posed by the challenges of the future,” said David Ruiz-Roso, partner in charge of the EY Private-Family Business area.
Although the number of European companies included in the ranking has decreased by 11% since 2017, the old continent continues to lead the territorial ranking with 228 companies, hosting almost half of the family businesses in the world (46%).
They are followed by the total number of companies in the ranking, North America, with 30%, and Asia-Oceania, with 16%.
According to the analysis, European family businesses billed as a whole 3 trillion dollars, being the region that contributes the most new entities to the index. In addition, it is home to 14 of the 20 longest-running companies on the table, including a 354-year-old business.
By country, the United States is the one with the largest number of family businesses (118) followed by Germany (78) and France (31).
Regarding the division of economic activity, the ranking continues to be dominated by consumer companies, which make up around 40% of the index in 2023, both in number and in business volume.
The second most represented sector is industry and mobility, with 29% of volume.
The results of the classification show that the ‘family factor’ acts as a driver of innovation.
More than three-quarters (76%) of the family businesses analyzed are over 50 years old and experienced, demonstrating that their firm’s values have been able to withstand market volatility for generations.
These data show the extent to which family businesses can maintain both their success and their succession over time.
The stability that comes with longevity will be invaluable in enabling family corporations to continue to pursue their goals through 2023, according to the EY report.
Regarding the leadership of the companies in the ranking, almost half (45%) have a family member as CEO and 23% of the seats on the boards of directors are occupied by family members.
Regarding gender representation, only 5.8% of the companies on the list have a woman as CEO and only 23% of the board positions are held by women.
