Retail companies to open 150 – 170 outlets in Romania in 2008
Economic Daily/ Nine O'clock
December 29, 2007

Retail companies may open next year 150 – 170 outlets in the Romanian market, as against 115 finalised in 2007, the total value of investments ranging from EUR 750 M to EUR 900 M, Mediafax informs.
The total number of stores advanced by 97 this year, up to a total of 369 outlets, by 36 per cent more than in 2006, according to the data released by market research company MEMRB.

“2007 was definitely the year of discounters. Their number advanced by more than 60 per cent (69 openings), by an average of six openings per month. This is normal if we consider the expansion policy, towards areas less targeted by other types of stores, such as the lower cities”, based on a survey by MEMRB. The number of hyper-markets also advanced by 55 per cent.

The retail segment ranking the second in terms of importance is discount and its share advanced, over the first half of the year, from 4 per cent to 5 per cent, and in 2008, the companies active in this field have scheduled 65 to 75 such stores and investments worth EUR 90 to 120 M. Also, super markets operators announced investments over EUR 75 – 85 M in over 40 stores.