Retail market in Romania - statistics & facts
Romania's retail sector is undergoing a significant expansion in modern retail spaces. By the end of 2024, the country surpassed the 4.5 million square meter mark, marking a new record in its retail infrastructure, with an estimated addition of around 186,000 square meters. The two largest food retail chains in the market are Lidl and Kaufland, with Lidl having the highest revenue.
The shopping platform eMAG has emerged as the most valuable Romanian brand in the online retail sector. Furthermore, Profi has established itself as a major player in the food retail industry, with the highest number of stores compared to its rivals. With a staggering 1,726 stores, Profi solidified its position as a leader in the food retail landscape, catering to the diverse needs of Romanian consumers nationwide.
By 2027, Romania's retail sector is expected to expand by over 700,000 square meters of new modern retail space, including major projects such as the 80 million euro overhaul of Palas Mall in Iași and the launch of new regional shopping centers like M Park Orăștie. These shifts underscore the evolution of the Romanian retail market.
The key players are solidifying their presence
The Romanian retail industry, which comprised 129,084 retail companies in 2023, has seen a decrease of approximately 17 percent since 2008. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including market consolidation, increased competition, and changes in consumer behavior. Despite this, the industry's revenue has surged by an impressive 234 percent since then, reaching a substantial 374 billion Romanian lei.The shopping platform eMAG has emerged as the most valuable Romanian brand in the online retail sector. Furthermore, Profi has established itself as a major player in the food retail industry, with the highest number of stores compared to its rivals. With a staggering 1,726 stores, Profi solidified its position as a leader in the food retail landscape, catering to the diverse needs of Romanian consumers nationwide.
Shifts in consumer spending and e-commerce
Consumer spending patterns and the rapid rise of e-commerce also shape the Romanian retail landscape. Promotional sales have long played a significant role in attracting shoppers, with their share reaching 24.4 percent of total FMCG sales in 2025, up from 20.6 percent in 2021. This increase reflects stronger competition and changing purchasing behavior. At the same time, online retail has gained unprecedented momentum, with eMAG.ro generating net e-commerce revenues of 970.5 million U.S. dollars in 2024, far ahead of other players such as Dr. Max with 399.3 million dollars and FarmaciaTei.ro with 191.6 million dollars. The FMCG sector also experienced notable price adjustments, with coffee, tea, and cacao products seeing the steepest year-on-year increase of 10 percent in 2024, while pet food recorded a contrasting 7 percent price drop.By 2027, Romania's retail sector is expected to expand by over 700,000 square meters of new modern retail space, including major projects such as the 80 million euro overhaul of Palas Mall in Iași and the launch of new regional shopping centers like M Park Orăștie. These shifts underscore the evolution of the Romanian retail market.
