Profi Romania reports 45% sales growth in 2008

Louis Delhaize’s discount chain in Romania reported total sales of EUR120 million in 2008, accounting for 45% year-on-year growth, Piata magazine reported.

“We had an excellent year in 2008:
33% like-for-like growth, the continuation of our expansion by
opening seven new stores and rebranding former Albinuta stores as
Profi,” said Caius Crisan, General Manager of Profi Rom Food, which
operates the Profi chain.

The company said that in the first
three months of the current year sales were 10% higher than expected,
which was attributed to a growing number of clients, as well as by
the effect of the rebranding of Albinuta outlets. “We had a sales
growth between 10 and 20% after reopening the rebranded stores”,
added Crisan. Profi is forecasting 20-30% sales growth and plans to
open eight new stores.