Obi keeps growth plans, wants five more stores in Romania next year

“By the end of 2009, we want to have five other stores in Romania, and the next cities where we will set foot will be Arad and Pitesti,” said Romano Quinzi, general manager of Obi Romania. The company is providing the sums needed for its expansion through its own funds, and will not be taking out bank loans.
Obi is targeting both retail parks as well as independent locations in all cities above 70,000 inhabitants. So far, the firm has chosen Oradea for its first store, and Bucharest for the second. Its store in the capital covers 11,000 sqm in the Berceni area, which is south of Bucharest. The growing do-it-yourself market in Romania reaches EUR 2 billion, in Quinzi's opinion, and is poised for more growth. Obi's competitors on the market are long-timers Praktiker and Bricostore, and more recent entries Mr. Bricolage and Baumax.
Corina Saceanu