Billa reaches highest growth rate this year

Billa, the largest supermarket network on the Romanian market, has announced it will expand to 38 stores this year, from the 28 it operated at the end of 2007. Investments in expanding the network in 2008 could amount to around 30 million euros. The retailer will open its 31st local store, with a 550 square-metre area, in the town of Tulcea. “We will continue this accelerated growth rate until 2010, and open 6-10 new stores a year, with a view to reaching 50 stores across Romania,” said Billa Romania representatives. The acceleration of Billa’s local expansion comes amid intensification in competition on the supermarket segment. Over the last year, Carrefour, leader of the hypermarket network, has made its entry onto the supermarket segment by taking over the Artima network from Polish Enterprise Fund V, while the Mega Image network has consolidated its position as a leader of the supermarket segment by acquiring La Fourmi store network from another investment fund.