ROMANIA: Large retailers to open at least 300 new stores in 2017 | Progresiv
Five of the 12 international retailers present on the Romanian market have already announced expansion plans for 2017 and the balance shows a total of 300 stores, with 50 more than in the previous year. 
The most aggressive retailer will be Profi, whose plans were not derailed at all by the change of ownership at the end of 2016. It plans a total of 200 new units, fraternally divided between three formats - Standard, City and Loco.
Mega Image also announced a number of at least 60 new units and a total investment budget of 50 million. However, for the Belgian-Dutch retailer it is more important to enter the market in Cluj, planned for the first quarter of the year and representing an important stepping stone in terms of "national expansion target". Also, Mega Image is working on its own project in the online area, which will operate in parallel with the eMag partnership.
In the hypermarket segment, only German retailer Kaufland has announced its plans for 2017, respectively 5-6 new stores.
In the discount segment, the two active players will expand in line with 2016: 20-25 Penny sores and 10-11 Lidl units. Selgros also announced two openings in the new compact format, one of the new locations having already been announced: Bistrita.
The remaining retailers have not yet announced their expansion plans, but what we know is that France's Carrefour is busy remodeling and rebranding Billa stores under the Market banner in the first half of the year.
