German retailer Kaufland, leader on the local market, expanded its Romanian network by ten stores this year. Its investments in the new units are estimated at EUR70-100 million. If sales per store remain unchanged at EUR19 million, Kaufland’s overall sales would reach about EUR1.5 billion this year.
On the other hand, Germany’s Real and French retailer Carrefour closed one hypermarket each.
Real, which owns 24 hypermarkets in Romania, has been taken over by French retailer Auchan this month and the transaction will be completed in 2013. Auchan opened two new units this year, in Bucharest and Iasi, and will become one of the largest retailers in Romania once the deal is completed. Its Romanian network includes 11 units.
Cora, owned by French-Belgian group Louis Delhaize, opened two stores this year, in Bucharest and Bacau.
Romania has 150 hypermarkets, whose annual sales stand at EUR3.5-4 billion.
Hypermarket openings in 2012| Retailers | Openings | Network |
| Kaufland | 10 | 81 |
| Cora | 2 | 10 |
| Auchan | 2 | 11 |
| Carrefour | -1 | 24 |
| Real | -1 | 24 |
| Total | 12 | 150 |