Dutch Heineken, the former owner of the brewery, announced it sold the 2.7-ha land plot on which the brewery operated for 140 years at the end of last year. The land was bought by Kiseleff Development company controlled by businessman Ionut Dumitrescu, and Germany’s Kaufland network, in a deal worth around EUR10 million, according to ZF information.
The urban planning permit Bucharest’s City Hall issued last year allows for the raising of several office buildings of up to 14 floors on this land plot, but also of a hypermarket, and Kaufland plans to build a new unit 200-300 meters away from Carrefour Orhideea, a hypermarket boasting some of the highest sales in Bucharest and Romania, with revenue of around EUR100 million per year.
In late March, Kaufland and Kiseleff Development hired Apolodor firm to pull down the buildings raised on the land plot of the former brewery.
Kaufland now holds six stores in Bucharest, in Colentina, Barbu Vacarescu, Pantelimon, Mihai Bravu, Sebastian and Valea Cascadelor, as well as another at least four units under various stages of construction in Bucurestii Noi, Valea Oltului (Drumul Taberei), Munplast (Ghencea) and Romprim Berceni.
According to current information, the best Kaufland stores boast annual sales of around EUR35 million, in the context where the German group’s units are smaller than the hypermarkets of rivals like Auchan, Cora or Carrefour.
Kaufland representatives did not provide information on the Grivita investment carry out terms by edition close, while Ionut Dumitrescu said further details will be published in the coming days.
Nationwide, Kaufland has a network of over 90 hypermarkets and the company plans to open the 100th unit by the end of this year.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)