Metro expects 900m euro revenues

Metro Cash & Carry Romania, the largest player in the industry in Romania, expects a 900 million-euro turnover by the end of next year. For a second time, the company looks set to exceed the number of stores initially announced as the final goal of its expansion plan for the Romanian market. “Metro Cash & Carry Romania will achieve an around 900 million-euro turnover by the end of 2005. The growth will be achieved from new store openings, as well as from an increase in demand on the market,” announced Dusan Wilms, the company’s chief executive. The company made 762 million euros in turnover last year, according to its own figures, and plans to achieve a full-year turnover of 800 million euros this year. Metro just opened its twentieth store in Romania in Brasov, following a 15 million-euro investment. “The Romanian expansion was supposed to stop at 20 stores, but the success of our group has allowed us to exceed this number,” Wilms said. Metro will open its next store by the end of the year and further stores thereafter, according to the plans announced by Wilms. ZF