Plus Discount network to reach 80 stores in a year

The Plus discount store network plans to expand by 25-30 stores on the local market by the end of the next fiscal year (April 30th 2009), through investments estimated at 1.5 million euros for each store. Pludi Market, operator of the Plus stores, announced it would increase its share capital by 100 million euros, through a cash contribution from the main shareholder. “The 100 million-euro capital increase conducted by Charlotte Verwaltungs-und-Beteiligungs, a company entirely held by the Tengelmann group, will fund the accelerated expansion of the Plus Discount network in Romania,” specified Ioana Marginean, marketing manager of Pludi Market. The retailer conducted investments worth several tens of millions of euros in logistics on the Ploiesti platform, as well as for the construction of the second centre. Marginean also said the location for the network’s logistic centre, in Transylvania, is still undecided. At present, Plus Discount numbers 50 stores, with a total sales area of around 52,000 square metres.