Next year could see 19 hypermarket openings

Hypermarkets are preparing for the year with the most expansions in times of crisis in 2011, although signs of a consumption rebound are yet to be seen. With around 19 new stores on paper or under construction and overall investments put by ZF at 250 million euros, retailers are signalling a market rebound, writes Business Construct magazine in its latest issue.

All hypermarket chains will have new store openings in 2011. Although the expansion rate is half of what it was in 2007 or 2008, this will be the first year of crisis when new hypermarket projects are unfrozen.
Nobody on the market is expecting to see a resumption of the offensive of big food retailers for market share at the same speed as in 2006-2008, when Real, Kaufland and Auchan were taking their first steps in Romania.
Cora, the retailer with the lowest rate of expansion when consumption boomed, will be catching up next year, when it might have five store openings.
On the other hand, Carrefour - the biggest player on the market - could complete one expansion project next year, in Bucharest, in a space rented out back in 2007.