Profi and Mega Image were the expansion champions in Romania in the first half as they have been over the past few years. They opened 80 and 25 new stores in the first half. The number of new stores is calculated by checking the number of stores at the time of the calculation against the number of stores at the end of the year, therefore taking into account store closures not only inaugurations.
The two networks operate the same type of stores, that is convenience stores and supermarkets. Such stores usually have a floor area of tens or hundreds of square meters and are usually located on the ground floor of apartment buildings or in rented spaces, which is why they require lower investments. In comparison, a hypermarket opened on a plot of land a retailer owns may cost as much as EUR20 million.
Smaller stores accounted for most inaugurations in the past few years. A number of 200 to 250 stores under various formats from hypermarkets and supermarkets to discount, cash & carry and convenience stores have opened each year.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)