The Romanian supermarket sector closed 2024 with a total turnover of 149 billion RON, up 4.35% compared to the previous year, and a combined net profit of 4.1 billion RON, according to the latest report from the financial analysis platform RisCo.ro.
The data confirm a moderate but steady upward trend in the food retail market, which continues to be dominated by major international chains. Lidl and Kaufland, both part of German groups, together generate over one-third of total food retail sales in Romania.
Top 7 Supermarket Chains in Romania (2024)
1. Lidl – The Market Leader
Lidl Romania topped the 2024 ranking with a turnover of 23.97 billion RON and a net profit of 1.22 billion RON.
The company employed 12,735 people, with sales per employee of 1.88 million RON. Lidl is 100% owned by the German company W E International GMBH.
2. Kaufland – Strong Performance and German Consistency
In second place, Kaufland reported a turnover of 19.58 billion RON and a net profit of 1.15 billion RON.
With 14,592 employees and sales per employee of 1.34 million RON, the retailer maintains its strong position in Romania. The company is 99.9% owned by Kaufland International Erste GMBH (Germany).
3. Profi – Expanding Despite Losses
Profi ranked third with a turnover of 14.12 billion RON, but recorded a net loss of 210 million RON.
The company employed 6,072 people, with sales per employee of 2.32 million RON. Profi is fully owned by the Dutch group Delhaize The Lion Nederland BV.
4. Carrefour – French Giant Holding Steady
Carrefour Romania reached a turnover of 12.54 billion RON and a net profit of 52.4 million RON, with 10,141 employees and 1.23 million RON in sales per employee.
Carrefour is 94.36% owned by Hyparlo Sas (France).
5. Mega Image – A Solid Fifth Place
Mega Image, also owned by Delhaize The Lion Nederland BV (Netherlands), reported a turnover of 10.58 billion RON and a net profit of 116.9 million RON, employing 10,317 people.
Sales per employee reached 1.02 million RON.
6. Penny – Consistent Growth from Rewe Group
Penny, owned by Germany’s Rewe Beteiligungs Holding International GMBH, ranked sixth with 9.44 billion RON in turnover and 224.9 million RON in profit.
The chain employed 7,283 people, with sales per employee of 1.29 million RON.
7. Auchan – French Retailer Faces Challenges
Auchan closed the ranking with 7.74 billion RON in turnover and a net loss of 8.6 million RON.
It employed 6,663 people, and sales per employee stood at 1.16 million RON.
Auchan is owned by Monicole Exploitatiemaatschappij BV (Netherlands, 75%) and Auchan Retail International SA (France, 25%).
Market Trends: Moderate Growth and Tight Margins
According to RisCo.ro, the Romanian supermarket market has recorded steady and sustainable growth over the past three years:
- 2022: 127.5 billion RON (+17.5%)
- 2023: 143.4 billion RON (+12.6%)
- 2024: 149.7 billion RON (+4.35%)
While total revenues have grown, the profit margins remain thin, ranging between 2.7% and 3.4%. The industry’s cumulative profit has stayed relatively stable, between 4.1 and 4.5 billion RON.
The total workforce across the top supermarket chains has remained above 170,000 employees, and sales per employee increased from 685,000 RON in 2022 to 875,000 RON in 2024—a sign of growing operational efficiency despite inflationary pressures and rising costs.
Foreign Ownership Still Dominates
All major supermarket chains operating in Romania are foreign-owned, primarily by German, French, and Belgian groups.
This concentration of ownership reflects both the internationalization of retail and the competitive barriers to entry for local players.
Lidl and Kaufland—both German-owned—collectively account for over 33% of the entire food retail turnover in Romania, consolidating their leadership in a highly competitive market.
About RisCo.ro
Founded in 2014, RisCo provides online verification and monitoring services for Romanian companies.
The platform offers financial, legal, and payment discipline data to help businesses avoid partnerships with financially unstable firms.
RisCo’s reports can be accessed by any individual or company at www.risco.ro.
The information is extremely useful and relevant, providing us with a clear perspective on market leaders and current trends. It helps us gain a better understanding of purchasing power dynamics and consumer behavior.