“Ever since we arrived on the local market, in 2005, we’ve focused on cities with over 300,000 inhabitants that should allow for revenue matching operated investments. Thus, our list currently includes cities such as Cluj, Sibiu, but we’re not ruling out eastern Bucharest,” states Mugurel-Horia Rusu, general manager of Hornbach Romania.
According to ZF information, Hornbach is in talks to enter the market of Sibiu, a city where another Germany group, OBI, closed down a store this summer. On the other hand, OBI also shut down a store in eastern Bucharest, an area where Romanian-held Dedeman this autumn started building a store set to be completed next spring.
Hornbach last opened a store in Romania in 2012 in Timisoara, in the wake of investments worth EUR30 million.
Hornbach’s Rusu states in the first half of the current financial year (March 1-August 31), the number of Hornbach clients rose by 10%, without providing concrete data on the number of clients.
The company owns the largest DIY stores on the local market, with areas of above 22,000 square meters and a range of 60,000 products.
The retailer generated sales worth almost EUR100 million in Romania in 2013.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)