Kaufland, Carrefour and Lidl are the most powerful retail networks in Romania, being the top three players on the market in terms of household expenditures in the first half of 2013, according to a study conducted by GfK.

The ranking is similar to the one in 2012.

“By September 2014, we expect a change in the rankings after Metro Group took over the Real stores, rebranding them as Auchan. We estimate that at the end of this process Auchan will become the second most important chain of hypermarkets in Romania,” said Raluca Raschip, Consumer Goods &Retail Director GfK Romania.

The modern retail became more present in the life of Romanians in the first half of the year, covering over 50 percent of consumer products' total value.

The hypermarket is the channel with the largest increase, namely 3 percent year-on-year in the first six months of 2013, reaching a market share of 28 percent.

“Retailers’ activities have intensified lately, both in terms of numbers of stores opened - with 31 percent  more than in 2012, and on loyalty activities - advertising, contests in the stores, or other promotional activities,” according to GfK.

The study is based on information obtained through monitoring household consumption in the first half of 2013.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com