Billa sees 400m-euro sales

The Billa Romania supermarket network, part of the German group Rewe, registered an approximately 32% sales increase in 2007, compared with 2006 and reached around 400 million euros, according to company data. Currently, Billa operates 28 stores and could reach 38 stores by the end of the year. The company has accelerated its expansion rate over the last two years, from 4 new stores in 2006 to 6 last year, whilst 10 are planned for this year. Billa network’s expansion plans will focus on Bucharest. “In the long run, I think Bucharest market has room for 50 Billa supermarkets, and over 200 stores throughout the country. However, given the market growth, in 2 or 3 years we might have a different perspective on the potential for development,” says Marcel Haraszti, general manager of Billa Romania.