At present, the network includes 13 stores, with another five set to be opened by yearend. The company has focused on central Romania, opening stores in Sibiu (four), Alba Iulia (three), Campeni, Orastie, Hunedoara, Hateg, Petrosani and Petrila (one each).
“The main factor in opening new stores was that of regionality. Later on, we took the demographic factor into account, focusing on towns with over 10,000 inhabitants,” says George Anghelescu, manager of Retail Alba Com, which operates the Alba Market store chain.
The first six stores in the chain were opened in 2010, and the next seven this year. “We plan to open other five stores this year and another 8-10 next year”.
Alba Market is a chain of convenience stores, each with retail areas of 180 to 2,000 square meters, selling between 4,000 and 12,000 items. Against an average total investment of EUR350 per square meter, the company spends between EUR63,000 and EUR700,000 to open a store, depending on its area.
Retail Alba Com is part of the Elit group owned by businessman Dorin Mateiu. Alba Market’s turnover reached RON4.6 million (EUR1.3 million) last year and the company expects it to be around seven times higher at the end of this year, namely EUR8 million.
The network was launched as consumer spending fell by 5%, a trend that continued this year. Anghelescu explains that in the current economy consumers are more cautious when spending, hunting for promotions. (EUR1=RON4.2611)
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu; Editing by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)