Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu, who has started to invest in retail earlier this year, plans to reach a total of 3,000 stores under the Mic.ro brand by the end of next year, which will include neighborhood stores as well as mobile kiosks. The investor expects this network to bring a EUR 1.5 billion turnover by the end of next year.

Patriciu has already invested EUR 30 million in the network, but the total investment will reach EUR 200 million. So far, the network includes 115 fixed neighborhood stores and it will exceed 300 by the end of the year.  These stores should generate EUR 150 million in total sales in 2010 and as much as EUR 1.5 billion in turnover at the end of next year, after the rapid expansion.

The plan is to expand countrywide and in rural areas, having already started with stores in Corbeanca, Snagov and Balotesti. “We are trying to develop a chain of grocery shops, with delivery boys who get the merchandise to the client's house,” said Patriciu.

The strategy is to open such stores within 800 meters from each other in urban areas. The store managers will live in the respective neighborhoods and will be trained. The retailer is also planning an association system, with the ideal target being young intellectual families. The associates will have to pay for their training courses and come up with a EUR 700 deposit, after which they will receive a fully functional store to manager and will get a percentage of the sales. The minimum monthly sales volume of an associate is of EUR 2,500 and the associates will have to pay three employees.

Romania-insider.com