Under the circumstances, the networks progressed at a pace of one store every other day. If they continue like this, modern retail could exceed 1,000 stores this year.
The most aggressive in terms of expansion were Mega Image, Lidl and Profi, all of which operate small format stores. They were on the same position in 2011.
Belgium-held Mega Image, which operates the supermarkets by the same name and the Shop&Go convenience stores on the Romanian market, in January and February inaugurated nine stores and has already announced another eight openings planned for March alone. The company, which operates 114 stores, might end the year with 180 or 190, according to information on the market. It therefore plans to inaugurate almost three times as many stores as last year in 2012.
Lidl expanded its network by seven stores so far, thus consolidating its position as the largest retail chain in Romania. The representatives of the German-yield retailer have recently said that Lidl will continue expansion but it will depend on finding suitable plots and securing construction permits.
Only five of the 13 companies left in the modern retail business after the departure of G’Market, which sold its stores to Mega Image and Carrefour and the closure and insolvency of Minimax Discount, opened stores in the first five months of the year. Out of the five, Kaufland is the only large format retailer to have expanded. The German-held company with over EUR1 billion in sales in 2010, has already opened four stores in which it invested EUR30 million, according to ZF estimates. Kaufland’s network therefore numbers 75 stores, three times the number of the largest hypermarket chain operators Carrefour and Real.
The bold expansion of 2012 may be because of the at least temporary rebound in consumer spending, which rose by almost 10% in January, and also because of the lower rent and land cost.
Under the circumstances, other networks will open stores in the coming months, as plans announced for 2012 should lead to more than 200 new stores, the most ambitious year in the sixteen-year history of modern retail in Romania.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)