Mega Image officials had already announced the new Mega Image replacing the G’Market supermarket in Plaza Romania mall (west of the city) would open in January. The company got approval from the competition authorities to buy the remaining three supermarkets of Turkish-owned G’Market in December, two of which have already been turned into Mega Image stores.
Other two units will be opened in the northern part of Bucharest.
Mega Image is the first retailer to open stores in 2012. The Belgian-held network has yet to announce how many it plans to open this year or how high the investments should be, but considering the last few years’ development, it expands fast.
It opened 33 stores last year alone, mainly in Bucharest and in Ilfov county, which surrounds the capital city. It is the largest retail chain in Bucharest, with over 75 stores.
Mega Image is part of the Delhaize Group and is the fourth largest chain in Romania in unit numbers with 105 stores, after Lidl (129), Penny Market (128), and Profi (108). It posted sales of more than 883 million lei (EUR203 million) in 2010, up almost 45% on the year. It has not announced its results for 2011 yet. (EUR1=RON4.3532)
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)