115% discounters’ revenue growth in the last three years in Romania - October 2011

In last three years discounters opened more than 200 stores, a number greater than in the first seven years of their operation on the Romanian market. The discounters’ sales results are far better than in the grocery sector, as in 2010 revenues of discount stores rose by 13.1% while the whole market went down by 2.1%. The companies’ future plans assume the opening of 300 more stores within the next four years and gaining at least a 10% market share.

The Romanian discount chain market consists of six banners. The first, Profi, appeared in 2000. The next two were opened by Rewe, i.e. a large-format Penny Market XXL from 2001 and a smaller, Penny Market, from 2005. Plus Discount chain entered the market in 2005, but in 2011 it was acquired by Lidl chain, which entered the market at the same time. The only local chain, miniMAX Discount, a joint venture of Romanian and foreign investors, which was also set up in 2005, was taken over last year by Mercadia Holland BV and is planned to be rebranded as Mac.ro chain. Last but not least, the sixth banner, Red Market, was launched in December 2009 by Mega Image.