Kaufland has become a dominant player in the retail sector, announces the company that is currently celebrating its 18th year since entering the Romanian market.

From its first store opened in 2005 in the Colentina neighborhood of Bucharest, with a team of 500 employees, Kaufland Romania has grown to a network of 171 stores in 95 localities and a team of 17,000 employees.

It is one of the largest private employers in Romania and has developed one of the most sustainable business models. The year 2022 marked a record expansion for the company, with 16 new stores inaugurated.

An analysis of the period from 2018 to 2022, conducted by the audit and consulting company KPMG, highlights the significant impact of Kaufland Romania on the local economy, both directly and indirectly.

The results of the socio-economic impact study, "With Romania for Romania," reveal that in the last five years, Kaufland has maintained continuous economic growth of 10.7% in terms of CAGR. Kaufland's contribution to the national economy has remained constant, representing nearly 1% of Romania's GDP annually, with a total gross value added (GVA) of approximately 2.5 billion euros.

Furthermore, in the past five years, Kaufland Romania has made a significant contribution to the state budget, with approximately 1 billion euros in taxes paid to the state budget and employee taxes.

In terms of the national workforce, the share of jobs generated by Kaufland in the national economy has steadily increased, from 1.1% in 2018 to 1.7% in 2022. In the financial year 2022 alone, Kaufland supported over 90,900 jobs through its activities in Romania, representing a 65% increase compared to 2018.

Collaboration with local suppliers has remained a priority for Kaufland, with expenses allocated to them reaching 2.4 billion euros in 2022.

In the past five years, the company has strategically aimed for consistent growth, with over 80% of suppliers being domestic annually. In 2022, more than 82% of total supplier expenses represent expenses with Romanian suppliers.

Simultaneously, Kaufland's commitment to local communities has been realized through concrete investments in CSR projects, increasing from 6.6 million euros in 2018 to over 9 million euros in 2022.

Investments in the community and the environment have evolved more rapidly than the profitability of the business, demonstrating the increased importance Kaufland places on collaboration with NGOs, support for environmental initiatives, and vulnerable groups.

"For 18 years, Kaufland has been more than a retailer in Romania. We are a partner, a responsible employer, and an active supporter of the communities in which we operate. The pride and confidence we have in our team, our partners, and our customers inspire us to continuously invest in a better future and to grow together," stated Marco Hoessl, CEO of Kaufland Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

Kaufland reaffirms its long-term commitment to Romania, with plans to maintain a constant pace of expansion, opening at least 10 stores annually. By 2025, the goal is to reach a total of 200 stores in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.