OMV Petrom, the biggest oil and gas group in Romania, has signed a partnership with the local subsidiary of French retailer Auchan, under which the retailer will open 15 proximity stores in Petrom gas stations by the end of 2017.

The new stores will be opened under the MyAuchan brand, with the first one being scheduled for opening in May. They will be located in Petrom gas stations in Bucharest, but also in other cities across the country, according to a press release issued by the two companies.

"This initiative is a step forward in implementing the OMV Petrom Strategy update 2021+, which focuses on enhancing offer and customer experience. The modern customer is always in a rush and we want to adapt to this trend. So, we will offer Petrom customers the opportunity to do their day-to-day shopping in Petrom filling stations when they fuel up, thus saving time," said Mariana Gheorghe, OMV Petrom CEO.

"This large-scale cooperation, which will start with a calibration pilot, is part of the Auchan ambition to become a multiformat retail company in Romania. Through this project, we will bring Auchan closer to all Romanians, thanks to the tailored ranges of products and services, fresh and quality food, good prices, and a unique shopping experience," said Ionuț Ardeleanu, General Manager Auchan Retail Romania.

Depending on the store’s area, the new shops’ offer will include up to 4,500 products, including items sold under the Auchan brand.

OMV Petrom, controlled by Austria’s OMV, recorded a RON 1.04 billion (EUR 232 million) net profit in 2016, after posting EUR 152 million losses in 2015. The company was running 783 gas stations in Romania and neighboring countries at the end of 2016, under Petrom and OMV brands.

Auchan Romania has 33 hypermarkets in its portfolio, and some 10,000 employees. Last year, the retailer reported a gross turnover of EUR 1.2 billion.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com