ROMANIA: Only one retailer continued its expansion in March | Progresiv
In March, the only international retailer that continued its expansion was Profi, held by last year by investment fund Mid Europa Partners. Thus, Profi opened in March a total of 13 stores nationwide. 
The retailer reached a total of 536 stores, present in 278 cities, still being the modern retail chain with the largest geographical expansion in Romania. The company ended 2016 with a turnover of over 3.5 billion lei, 38% more than in the previous fiscal year, according to data provided by the company.
March brought a novelty on the local retail market - even if it can not be classified as an expansion. From March 1st, French group Carrefour started remodeling 86 Billa supermarkets, purchased last year from German group Rewe that will be transformed under the Market banner by the end of this year.
The first Billa store remodeled and rebranded as Market was the one inside Liberty Center mall in Bucharest, Rahova neighborhood. In total, over the month of March, Carrefour remodeled under the Market banner six of the 86 Billa stores, but the retailer has made a surprising move, turning one Billa store in Galati into Supeco.
Carrefour launched Supeco concept in Romania in the autumn of 2014, the first store being opened in Ramnicu Valcea. The Supeco concept has a discount profile, the assorment emphasis being placed on the first price products. Supeco chain is independent of Carrefour Romania, with its own team and marketing and communication strategy different from Carrefour hypermarket chain. Supeco Investment company, which operates the Supeco chain, ended the first year of operation (2015) on the local market with a turnover of about 50 million lei and a loss of 8 million lei.
