ROMANIA: Carrefour reported two digit growth in H1 | Progresiv
French group Carrefour, the world's second-largest revenue-generating retail player, reported a 34% growth for its Romania operations in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2016, according to the company's financial report. 
Carrefour Romania's business rose in the first six months to 832 million euros, compared to the same period in 2016 when the level was 618 million euros. At group level, business grew 6.2% to 38.5 billion euros, with developments in Europe being supported, among others, by the acquisition and integration strategy of Billa stores in Romania and Eroski in Spain.
On the other hand, the French group has lowered its business growth estimates at the year-to-date level, indicating an advance of only 2-4%. The retailer pointed out that performance in 2017 will be impacted by the results of the first semester and the business environment, which remains difficult in the second half of the year in some countries.
"Carrefour needs to accelerate the digital transformation process of the group. We also need to bring fresh breath to the hypermarket area, especially to the stores in France. Moreover, the focus is on increasing profitability, simplifying the way the company operates", says Alexandre Bompard, who took over the CEO position in July.
Carrefour currently operates 299 stores in Romania, of which 32 Carrefour hypermarkets, 194 Market supermarkets, 14 Express Orange stores, 44 Express proximity stores, 10 Contact stores, an online shopping platform www.carrefour-online.ro, 6 Billa stores and 6 Supeco units. In 2016, the French - through the four entities they operate - have accumulated a turnover of 8,388 billion lei and a profit of 129 million lei.
