The logistic space used by the major retailers has constantly grown over the years as the store chains developed to the about 2,200 hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount or cash & carry stores in operation today.
Moreover, retailers plan to continue investment in logistics as they continue to expand. Such retailers include local leader, German-held Kaufland group, discount store Penny Market and supermarket chain Profi. The retailers put their warehouses mostly near Bucharest and in Transylvania, to be able to keep all their stores supplied. The fast-paced expansion in Moldavia has made them start storage facility investments in this region, as well.
Kaufland wants to build a warehouse in Moldavia, following expansion in the region and plans to launch operations in the Republic of Moldova, as well.
Penny Market was the first to open a warehouse in this region, considered the country’s poorest. It built a 1.9 hectare warehouse in Bacau, which will become operational in February 2016. Such a warehouse requires an about EUR20 million investment. Penny Market also wants to expand its two other warehouses in Turda and Stefanesti and also continue to open 20 to 25 stores a year to double the network to 400 in the next few years.
Profi, too, intends to open a warehouse in Roman, along with 200 new stores in Romania.
Not all modern retailers pursue the same strategy, however. The German-held ones usually buy the land and develop the warehouses themselves. This is what Belgian-held Mega Image, does, too. On the other hand, the French retailers prefer to work with specialist logistics companies, where they rent a lot of space.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)