The growth rate is double the growth rate of the entire market and the convenience segment. In comparison, sales in large format stores – hypermarkets and cash & carry went up 6.8% in May-October, while modern supermarkets saw 13.4% higher sales.
This is interesting to watch considering this is the first time in many years when local retail, i.e. the networks held by local entrepreneurs, do better than modern retail chains. The representatives of such stores confirm the figures in RetailZoom.
“We’ve noticed a clear shift in consumer preference towards supporting local businesses and choosing products from Romanian brands and local producers,” says Ghassan Shakshir, marketing manager and shareholder of the Safeway group.
Safeway has 12 Home Garden grocery stores in Cluj County, which posted almost 40 million lei sales in 2019.
Adrian Ariciu, CEO of Metro Cash & Carry Romania, says he can see a rise in the number of reseller customers. Unlike retailers, who work with end customers, Germany’s Metro is a cash & carry operator, working with companies. It caters to two major customer types – resellers (small stores) and food and drink service industry.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)