The bet on Romania’s rural areas is older, being launched in 2015, but expansion in these areas gained momentum this year.
Profi has been the modern retailer with the fastest expansion pace in Romania.
However, in 2021 the company opened “just” 154 stores. Thus, this year is set to be the first after 2017 when the retailer will open less than 200 supermarkets and proximity stores.
Profi’s initial target for 2021 envisaged 250 new units, but now the company also bets on store refurbishments. The company’s officials previously announced 250 units would be launched and retooled by yearend.
Profi, with over 1,500 stores, is the fourth biggest player in Romania’s food retail by 2020 turnover. It ended 2020 with RON8.8 billion turnover, up 22%. The growth pace is the second fastest on the market, after that of Lidl.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)