Mobexpert group, owned by businessman Dan Sucu, is set to invest 8m euros this year when it adds 4 new large stores to its national network, after last year it opened just one store in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"The Sofia store is similar to the one in Brasov. It hasn't quite reached the level of those in Bucharest, which are the network's strongest. In Romania, we became a brand after 15 years, whereas we've only been present for several months in Sofia," Sucu explained.

The Sofia store, which opened in September 2007, has registered very good results, with a 15% average monthly increase in sales, company data reveals.

Last year, the group generated turnover worth 168m euros, up 12% against 2006 and estimates turnover to increase 10% this year, in line with market growth, to 185m euros.

"We largely generated the growth we expected to post in 2008 in 2007. We are more restrained now, because we must leave room for manufacturing activities," added Sucu.

Mobexpert sales increased by average of 28% at a regional level compared with 2006. Group research shows the home furniture and d?cor segment generated 77% of sales, while from the office furniture segment accounted for 23%. On the Bucharest market, sales advanced by 25% against 2006.

"2007 brought higher-than-expected results for Mobexpert group. In retail, last year was a year when we opened several lines that we will continue to follow in 2008. Among them, the first Mobexpert hypermarket outside Romania, in Sofia, marked our consolidation as a regional player. On the manufacturing segment, we launched the Targu-Mures project, in order to meet the productivity and turnover increases we have outlined until 2012," Sucu added.

Mobexpert's exports fell by 11% last year compared with 2006, while the company's representatives anticipate the trend will continue this year as volumes are