It was first established in 1979 in the Saconia district of Madrid, Spain. By 1983 the corporate image of the brand was formed and it began franchising in 1989. A store in Portugal became its first franchisee outside Spain in 1993 and following continued success in Europe, Dia went on to set up franchises in Argentina and later in Brazil. There are now 3,058 franchises.
| Year established | 1979 |
| Year franchise established | 1989 |
| Number of units worldwide | 6,720 |
| Number of countries where company operates | 4 |
Training and support
Franchising is a dominant and powerful factor in Dia. 48% of Dia's total network operates as franchises. The franchises are run under an umbrella of the Dia framework, creating the opportunity for entrepreneurs around the globe to run an existing successful business model. It is a flexible franchise model that places emphasis on the neighbourhood segment where it aims to provide customers with their daily essentials in a way that's convenient and hassle free.
There is a comprehensive system in place to handle franchises. All franchisees will receive initial and ongoing training, as well as regular contact with the franchisor so support is always available. Dia places emphasis on two way communication between headquarters and individual franchisees to ensure all voices are being heard and to make sure the franchisees are aware of how vital they are to the company’s success.
Corporate Responsibility
Charities, sponsorship
Dia prioritises getting food to as many people as possible and to doing as much good as it can for the communities it operates in. Dia works with children in particular, who may not have access to proper food or care.
Some of Dia's initiatives include Dia making itself available to non-profit organisations that sell food for charity. An example of this was the initiative 'Charity Bottles of Water', Dia also collaborated with Unicef. The company has also collaborated with the Spanish Food Confederation – FESBAL – in order to distribute surplus food to the underprivileged.
Dia took part in World Rare Disease Day and supports the 'Building Networks of Hope' campaign, which creates awareness and connections for people living with a rare disease in Spain.
Environment
Dia are committed to environmental conservation and economic progress and aim to continue to create a better business based on an ethical framework that highlights people and the environment. Dia has a detailed Environmental Commitment Policy that is designed to express the obligations Dia has to the environment. The policy states the compliance Dia has with government regulations and laws concerning the environment. It lays out how they are responsible for their use of resources, the eco-design of packaging and the measures they must take to reduce greenhouse gases.