Delhaize interested in Romanian chain

Former Carrefour franchise stores

The 22 supermarkets Delhaize is targeting are all in Bucharest, the capital, and the goal is probably to improve its presence there, according to De Tijd. The Angst stores had previously been Carrefour franchise stores, but the shareholders decided to halt the collaboration.

Delhaize is now talking to Sorin Minea, a Romanian businessman, and the Swiss Angst family to negotiate a purchase. The Belgian group has previously bought Luca and Gulliver stores in Romania, helping Mega Image to reach a 530 million euro turnover in 2013, a third more than the year before.

CEO Frank Muller had stated earlier that there would be funds made available to invest in core markets, considered to have been Belgium, Serbia, Greece and the United States. That is why the possible Romanian investment can be considered somewhat surprising, as Delhaize is only active in the area around Bucharest.