While Romanian store chains experienced declines as they struggled to survive, foreign retailers brought a further 77m euros in expansion to gain market share. Thus, cumulated investments in the first quarter got close to the value registered in the first three months of 2007, when the economy was booming. Discounters' expansion brought a 30% increase in investments operated by major food store networks in the first quarter from a year ago and a doubling of the value posted in the first three months of 2008, according to ZF calculations. Germany's Kaufland in finalised 45m-euro investments in the first quarter, more than half the total investments in modern retail operated during this period. This year's second biggest investment, put at 25m euros, was completed by Cora network. The expansion of the two hypermarket operators brought 1,300 new jobs in retail in the first quarter, effectively offsetting the effect of Pic Romanian network closedown on the labour market. Foreign retailers profited from Romanian networks' contraction to enter new locations. Amid the lack of consumption rebound signals, Romanian entrepreneurs will more strongly feel market competition this year, consultants anticipate.

While Romanian store chains experienced declines as they struggled to survive, foreign retailers brought a further 77m euros in expansion to gain market share. Thus, cumulated investments in the first quarter got close to the value registered in the first three months of 2007, when the economy was booming. Discounters' expansion brought a 30% increase in investments operated by major food store networks in the first quarter from a year ago and a doubling of the value posted in the first three months of 2008, according to ZF calculations. Germany's Kaufland in finalised 45m-euro investments in the first quarter, more than half the total investments in modern retail