Mega Image, Carrefour and Auchan are the top retail chains in Bucharest by sales, according to ZF estimates based on market data. The ranking compiled by ZF shows that the things are different in Bucharest than in the rest of the country, as leader Mega Image derives revenue of EUR650 million to EUR700 million in Bucharest alone. The stores in the capital city – 370 to 380 out of more than 410 generate 90% of the Belgian-held retailer’s revenue.
The revenue of the modern retail chains in Bucharest has always been a taboo topic as this is where the competition is at its fiercest. ZF requested information about the number of stores in Bucharest and the sales they generate but retail chains were unwilling to supply “strategic data”.
The national leader, Kaufland, is down to the fourth place in Bucharest, with sales of EUR300 million to EUR350 million from ten stores, four of which opened last year alone.
Cora, on the other hand, climbed to fifth, even though it is close to the bottom of the ranking in the country, ninth out of twelve. ZF estimates that Cora stores in Bucharest generate more than 1.3 billion lei (EUR300 million) in sales, 80% of the sales of the entire network. Four of twelve Cora hypermarkets are located in the capital city.
While Cora and Mega Image get most of the revenue in Bucharest, Kaufland and Billa get less than 20% in this city.
“Mega Image has focused on the small store format ever since its entry on the market, so it got into this supermarket and convenience store niche at a time when major players were focusing on their traditional larger formats,” says Oana Iliescu, managing director of real estate consultant DTZ.
Mega Image, the largest retail chain by number of stores in Romania, has focused almost exclusively on Bucharest.
While Mega Image is the leader of Bucharest retail market, the top retailers in the country are Kaufland, Metro Cash & Carry, Carrefour and Auchan, each of which with more than EUR1 billion in revenue.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)