The supermarket chain Penny Market, part of German group Rewe, registered last year the largest annual average sales per square meter - €13,800, followed by hypermarket chain Carrefour, with €11,600, Penny XXL, also part of the Rewe group - €11,300, and Metro Cash&Carry - €9,300.
In retail, the sales-per-area ratio is one of the most important indicators for efficiency and sales area profitability. The foodstuff trade market amounted last year €14.7 billion, of which organized trade had a 29 percent share, according to a study of the British-based online information service Planet Retail.
By the end of 2006, hypermarket networks were totaling 37 stores, with Carrefour as market leader, with a 50.5 percent share. In the supermarket area, an association of local traders, CBA has a 56.6 percent market share, Rewe Group - 27.2 percent, and Delhaize Group - 9.2 percent. According to the Planet Retail study, 45.2 percent of the food products are sold in cash & carry stores, 23.5 percent in hypermarkets and 18.1 percent in supermarkets.
Penny Market, operating in Romania since 2005, had 26 stores countrywide last year, with a total sales area of 19,500 sqm. The network was enlarged to a current 32 stores, each with a standard sales area of 750 sqm and a portfolio of 1,400 products. The company’s expansion strategy aims at opening stores in all cities with population above 20,000. Company representatives announced last year that investments would reach €180-200 million in land acquisitions, buildings and equipment, by 2011. On the long term, they aim to open some 150-200 stores in Romania.
Chains
] Rewe Group networks include Billa, Penny Market XXL, Penny Market, and, in collaboration with Fegro Market, the Selgos cash & carry.
