Auchan and Real jointly reported losses of EUR15 million in 2013.
Auchan Romania has completed this week the rebranding process of the 20 real hypermarkets it took over last year from Metro.
Auchan Romanian head Patrick Espasa said the retailer remodeled 140,000 square meters of sale area over a six-month period, integrated 5,000 employees, created 1,000 new jobs and reduced the average sale price by 27%. Espasa also said the 27% lower average sale price is expected to trigger a 27% increase in the number of clients and sold items so that the retailer can reach the same sales level.
Auchan targets a 30% increase in the number of clients in 2015.
The Auchan-Real deal was completed on September 12, 2013, following the agreement signed in November 2012 between Auchan and Metro Group and antitrust clearance from Romania’s Competition Council end-July 2013.
Auchan Romania currently has 31 hypermarkets in Romania, two units under construction, a net sale area of 252.000 sqm, 11,000 employees, three logistics platforms and 70 million clients a year.
Auchan has become one of Romania’s five largest private employers and the second largest retail network in terms of total sale area countrywide, after Kaufland. (EUR=RON4.4620)