The retailer plans to end 2014 with a 100-unit network locally.
Since the beginning of 2014, Kaufland has opened six new hypermarkets in Arad, Targu Mures, Oradea, Targoviste, Bucharest and Gherla. The company said it will continue its expansion at the same rate in 2014, as it plans to open new stores both in Bucharest and countrywide. The retailer has so far created over 12,000 new jobs in Romania.
Kaufland invested between EUR48 million and EUR72 million in new hypermarkets in 2013, considering that the average investment in a hypermarket ranges between EUR6 million and EUR9 million.
Kaufland is the largest retailer in Romania by sales, followed by Metro Cash&Carry, Auchan and Carrefour. The retailer opened its first store in Romania in 2005. It is part of German retail group Lidl & Schwartz, which also operates Lidl stores in Romania.
In 2013, Kaufland Romania’s net profit rose over 20% to RON331 million (EUR75 million), while its turnover grew 13% to RON7.26 billion (EUR1.64 billion). In 2012, the retailer reported a turnover of RON6.4 billion (EUR1.4 billion), up 15% from 2011, and net profit of RON274.5 million (EUR61.6 million), up 64% on the year.