Carrefour posts over 5% growth in Q1

French retailer Carrefour reported an organic growth of over 5% on the Romanian market in the first quarter of the year against the same period in 2006. “We are pleased that Romania is one of six countries witnessing a large increase in turnover (excluding the effects of network expansion),” stated representatives of Carrefour Romania. They did not wish to specify the exact growth rate registered by network sales over the first three months compared with the first quarter of 2006. In the first quarter of 2006, the sales of Carrefour Romania amounted to 111.5 million euros, approximately 27% higher than in the first quarter of 2005, with the network having expanded by one store in Ploiesti during this period (October 2005). The company held 5 stores at the end of the first quarter of 2006, 3 of which in Bucharest. When results for the first half of 2006 were announced, Carrefour stated that for the first time certain stores on the Romanian market experienced a decline in sales against the first 6 months of 2005, due to tightening competition. However, overall sales increased.