In comparison, the number of stores opened in the previous years stood at 250 to 300. Foreign retail chains therefore invested more than EUR300 million in the opening of new hypermarkets, supermarkets and modern convenience, discount and cash & carry stores this year, according to ZF estimates.
Profi opened the most stores by far, followed by Mega Image. Both of them operate supermarkets and convenience stores. However, the largest budget for new stores was Kaufland’s, a hypermarket operator, which usually opens large stores on plots of its own.
A Kaufland store may therefore cost more than EUR10 million, compared with several hundred thousand euros spent for a small convenience store in a rented space.
The discount store format had one of its best years, too, with more than 50 new stores opened by Lidl, Penny Market and Supeco (Carrefour division).
Overall, the retail chains are stepping up expansion because the economy is still growing, consumer spending is rising, too, and modern retail still has room for growth considering it accounts for a little more than 60% of the overall market, compared with 80% or more in the West.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)