Frederic Lamy, CEO of Leroy Merlin Romania, says the retailer has store projects in Arad and Pitesti for 2023 and 2024 and is making further massive investments in digital, supply chain and in boosting the number of physical stores. However, he adds, the company is facing major inflation problems and forces it to remain wary until yearend.
2022 started quite well for the French retailer, he says, with a strong turnover increase and figures in line with estimates. The retailer is quite puzzled about the end of 2022 because of Ukraine war uncertainties and a likely household consumption slowdown.
This spring, Leroy Merlin opened its 20th stores in Romania and the second in Brasov. The French retailer hit RON2.6 billion turnover in 2020 on the local market, meaning a 20% increase. Profit also went up, from RON177 million in 2020, to RON215 million last year and the retailer reached 2,733 employees in 2021.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)