Croatian food retailers are continuing to expand their presence, with plans to open new stores in the coming year, according to local daily Poslovni Dnevnik.
Market leader Konzum (owned by food-to-retail consortium Agrokor) refurbished 10 existing stores in 2016 and will open 10 new stores with a total sales area of over 6,500 square metres by the end of the year. In 2017, the focus will be mainly on investments in small neighborhood stores and the development of the Konzum Klik online store.
Retailer KTC plans to invest a total of HRK 29 million (€3.8 million) this year in two new stores exceeding 700 square metres, as well as in the refurbishment of existing ones, adding additional facilities. In 2017, new outlets with a size of 800-1200 square metres are planned.
Since January, Lidl has modernised two stores (Zabok and Osijek), taking the total of outlets featuring the new store concept to five. Overall, the network should reach 90 by the end of the year, with the opening of a new supermarket at a yet to be announced location.
Metro Cash & Carry Hrvatska invested HRK 80 million (€10.6 million) in 2016, of which HRK 60 million just for moving its center in Split to a new location. The company in July also opened a new center in Porec, taking the total in Croatia to nine.
Spar Hrvatska refurbished three stores and opened new ones on four locations, with another one to follow by end-year. Total investments in stores in 2016 should surpass €40 million.
Finally, Kaufland opened a new store in Zagreb in 2016 and another one will follow soon.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
