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Trade: Supermarkets with highest imports
Products such as waffles and meat products imported last year by the Germans from Lidl weighed in the commercial balance more than turbines imported by CEZ for the wind park from Fantanele (Constanta), the largest of the kind in Romania. Supermarket networks Lidl and Kaufland which are part of the group controlled by German billionaire Dieter Schwartz, rank 22nd and 34th in a top of companies with most imports, according to a classification made by the National Statistic Institute.
The two networks are the only players among the first 100 firms in Romania which make direct imports, a classification dominated by companies in the car industry, pharmaceutical industry or energy.
Kaufland came in Romania in 2005 and became the leader of food trade in just 6 years with 85 stores at national level. Lidl came later in 2011, when it took over Plus network with over 100 stores. Since then the German company has opened 50 more units, thus becoming one of the largest modern trade networks. Both companies use low prices and proximity to clients, a strategy which proved to be adapted to market conditions in Romania.
The sales of supermarkets in Romania amount to 7.5-8 billion euro yearly and include besides Kaufland and Lidl, companies like Auchan, Carrefour, Cora, Billa, Mega Image, Metro, Penny, Profi or Selgros.