The retailer therefore continues the fast-paced expansion it stated a few years ago and its officials have recently said they plan to keep going at the same rate as in 2020, which means somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 new stores.
Profi inaugurated 237 new stores last year, ending 2020 with 1,404. It also closed some stores, but its officials never say how many.
It opened fewer stores than budgeted last year, due to the delay in securing permits, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The retailer, however, announced bold plans for Romania, a 2,500-store target to be attained by 2025.
Profi operates three formats in Romania – Standard (large stores up to 550 square meters in floor area), City (150 to 250 square meter stores in urban areas) and Loco (rural areas).
It has also announced a new format recently – convenience stores Profi Go, small stores stocking products for immediate consumption, impulse buys.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)