The growth rate ranged from 4% to 35%, but, for the first time in several years, each of the ten posted growth.
Consumer spending rose at a two-digit rate last year, driving the growth of the international retail chains. Another growth factor was the more than 300 new stores opened. Expansion also increased modern retail headcount by more than 4,500 to over 80,000.
Local modern retail is dominated by ten international chains, which account for almost 60% of the entire sector.
Out of the ten retailers, seven are already past the EUR1 billion revenue mark, and this is the sector with highest number of such companies. The top three are Kaufland, Carrefour and Lidl. The order remained unchanged in 2017, though the gaps between them narrowed. (EUR1=RON4.6647)
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)