Lidl plans to enter Romanian market

Discount food chain Lidl has advanced plans to enter the Romanian market and is currently scouting out potential store space, according to representatives of the company quoted by local newspaper Financiarul.

No Lidl stores are under construction yet but the supermarket chain, owned by the German Schwarz Group, is said to be on the look-out for plots of land ranging between 4,000 and 8,000 square metres in towns with 30,000 inhabitants or more. The grocery retailer plans to open outlets in Galati (east), Bistrita-Nasaud town (north), Lasi (east), Medias (centre) and Slobozia (south). In addition, Lidl Romania also plans to build a 45,000 square metre logistics centre in 2010. As such, the official launch of the discount chain in Romania could take place in 2010.