The retailer arrived in Romania last fall and opened stores in both major cities like Bucharest and Ploiesti and smaller cities like Medias, Deva and Targu-Jiu, according to its website.
It has two stores in Bucharest in Mega Mall and the shopping gallery of Auchan in Drumul Taberei, according to the same source. Real estate industry sources say the retailer plans to continue expansion in Bucharest and the rest the country.
Pepco officials did not return ZF’s calls for comment on their plans for Romania.
The Polish retailer entered Romania after conquering the markets in the region, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Pepco started in Poland in 2004 and has already expanded to 600 stores on its first market. Poland has a population of 38 million people, twice larger than Romania’s.
Pepco is part of a South-African group, Pepkor, which has a 50-year history and has reached 3,000 stores in Europe, Africa and Australia, where it operates with such brands as Best&Less, Pep and Ackermans. Pepco is the brand Pepkor uses for development in Europe.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)