French retailer Carrefour ups sales in Romania by 13%

French retailer Carrefour posted a turnover of over EUR 1.21 billion in Romania last year, up by 13% compared to 2014, according to the group’s annual report. In 2014, the group’s sales in Romania were EUR 1.06 billion. The sales growth in Romania was mainly due to the VAT cut on food introduced in June last year. Carrefour’s sales in Europe, except for its home market France, went up by 2.8% last year, to EUR 19.7 billion. This was the first growth in seven years. In Poland and Belgium, Carrefour’s sales stagnated whereas in Italy they rose by 5% and in Spain they increased by 3%. The group’s overall revenues went up by 3%, to EUR 76.9 billion, according to the report. Carrefour is the second largest retailer in Romania after Kaufland. The French group acquired the local supermarket chain Billa from German group Rewe, at the end of last year. This will likely further boost its revenues in Romania this year. Carrefour increases the wages for 95% of its employees in Romania editor@romania-insider.com