Big players in the domestic modern retail industry carried out their expansion on the local market both by opening new locations, and by acquiring small-sized players.
Metro re-launches cash & carry expansion and continues real,-Hypermarket network extension
After 3 years of focusing only on enforcing and developing own stores, German-based Metro decided to continue network expansion as of 2008. The expansion process will begin in the final quarter of the year, when the 24th unit of the retail operator will be opened in Deva, investment which will amount to 15-20 million euros.
“We considered that now is the time to continue our expansion process in other cities of the country, by opening the new Metro Cash & Carry unit in Deva, until late 2008. The high economic and commercial growth potential of the area included in Deva-Hunedoara-Simeria region was a vital argument in choosing the new location,” said Francois Oliver, managing director at Metro Cash&Carry Romania.
Real,-Hypermarket division of Metro has continued expansion on domestic market by opening two more branches in Bucharest and Buzau in the first nine months this year.
The new Real store in Bucharest is located in Berceni area and covers nearly 14,000 sqm, 7,320sqm being assigned to the commercial space. The store will work full-time and will provide 600 parking lots compound.
Real has opened recently in Bacau the 16 unit within the chain developed in Romania, after 18 million euros investment. The new s store covers 11.700 sqm, 6,100 sqm being assigned to the commercial space and provides 1,250 parking lots.
Carrefour: 6 hypermarkets and 17 supermarkets
In first three quarters of this year, the French retailer adopted a dynamic development policy for the chain: with the 6 new supermarkets opened in 2008, Carrefour reaches a 17 units network in Roman