However, the advance must be related to the record high inflation which topped 16% in Romania in 2022, which means that Carrefour sales growth was actually backed by price increases, considering that by volume – a more accurate indicator of private consumption – sales saw declines. Romania was one of the countries that reported the highest inflation rates in 2022.
“Romania had an excellent evolution in 2022 within the Group, confirming that Central and Eastern Europe is the fastest growing region in the European Union. It was the first-year post-pandemic, but also a year full of challenges for the retail industry and, despite inflation, we managed to absorb the disruption in the market, bear some of the costs and protect the purchasing power of our customers in Romania, through a variety of measures, such as promotions, own brand products, commercial activations,” said Régis Moratin, Chief Financial Officer of Carrefour Romania.
For Carrefour, in 2022, the fourth quarter was the best in Romania as sales saw a 17.8% like-for-like growth, almost double compared to the previous quarter.
In 2022, Carrefour opened 46 new stores, of which four Supeco (discount) units, three Carrefour Market (supermarket) units and 39 Express units (convenience, of which ten in franchise). This is one of the highest expansion rates of the last years for the retailer.