Foreign Grocery Retail Chains Invest EUR900M in Romania in 2020
Seven of the modern grocery retail chains in Romania have opened new stores in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, 421 new hypermarkets, supermarkets, modern convenience and discount stores were inaugurated, making 2020 the second best year for expansion after 2019.
The modern retail universe now numbers almost 3,500 stores under various formats in Romania.
Despite the pandemic, most chains continued to invest in Romania in 2020, at a time when many other sectors were frozen, both in terms of investments and activity.
In all, retailers spent some EUR900 million on new store openings, existing store remodeling, logistics development or other things this year.
Three networks did not open any new stores, while others stepped up expansion.
However, some stores were closed, especially small format ones, but such figures are not publicly available. Profi opened most stores, 237 for a total of 1,404, Mega Image 90 for a total of more than 850, Lidl 33 (289), Carrefour 24 (368), Penny Market 20 (276), Kaufland 10 (138), Auchan 7 (69). Metro Cash & Carry, Selgros Cash & Carry and Cora did not open and new stores, so they operate with 30, 23 and 11 stores.
ZF English, Dec 2020