In 5 years: investment of over 550 million, 25 stores in 18 cities in Romania Over 90% of products come from national, regional and local market. Bucharest 6 October 2011 real, - Hypermarket, part of METRO GROUP, celebrates five years on the Romanian retail market. Since the opening of the first store in Romania in 2006, real,- has invested over 550 million to develop a strong network that currently brings together 25 stores in 18 cities, reaching the performance to become the widest hypermarket chain in Romania in 5 years only. Since its arrival on the local market, real, - Hypermarket has positioned itself as one of Romanian's favorite retail chains, the company reporting increases in sales year over year, even in the actual unfavorable economic environment, 2010 being the year to report a positive operating profit for the first time on the Romanian market. "The first METRO GROUP sales division which entered the market was the first modern retailer in Romania, back in 1996. The second METRO GROUP sale division, real,- Hypermarket opened its first stores 10 years later, and convinced rapidly by a balanced expansion and a successful development. For the following years we maintain the same commitment to Romania, "said Michel Lamoot, CEO of real, - Hypermarket Romania. Within the 5 years on the local market, real,- was a reliable partner of the national and regional suppliers and a committed supporter of local producers. Thus, today, real, - Hypermarket store network sells approximately 70,000 food and nonfood products from 1,700 suppliers, out of which 90% are from Romania. At the same time real - aims to develop strong partnerships with local producers for both food and non food sector. "real, - Hypermarket is the first retailer to come up with a new approach in terms of cooperation with the local producers: we go to find them not vice versa. One of our priorities