Supermarket chain Mega Image, part of Belgian-Dutch group Ahold Delhaize, has reached a network of 500 stores in Romania.

It thus became the first operator of supermarkets in the local market that has reached this threshold.

However, local retailer Profi, owned by the Polish investment fund Enterprise Investors, also aims to reach 500 stores in December. Profi currently has 471 stores, after opening over 100 stores this year alone.

Mega Image entered the Romanian market about 11 years ago. The group has steadily increased due to the Shop&Go small units, which are operated in franchise. Of the total 500 stores, over 270 operate under the Shop&Go brand.

In recent years, Mega Image has also developed special concept stores, such as Wine Gallery, Equilibrium, and the Baneasa concept store. It has also developed its own brands, namely Gusturi Romanesti and Mega Apetit.

Mega Image had sales of over EUR 800 million in 2015.

editor@romania-insider.com