Rimi Baltic is a major retail operator in the Baltic states based in Riga, Latvia. Rimi Baltic operates 191 retail stores in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and has distribution centres in each country. The stores have different profiles, depending on range of products and size:
* Rimi Hypermarket – hypermarkets
* Rimi – supermarkets
* Säästumarket (in Estonia), Supernetto (in Latvia and Lithuania) – no frills supermarkets
During my market visits, I spot lots of things in the retail distribution, this time I was shocked by the size of the hair gel category in this supermarket in Cairo, really interesting to see this quantity of brands in a category where in some countries it has much much less shelf space than the one below in the picture.
Within the METRO Group, Real embodies the concept of a large selling space hypermarket. The Real hypermarkets are conveniently located, extensive and clearly structured. The brand profile of Real clearly targets young families with kids and the 50plus generation.
The sales brand Real in the past maintained its outstanding market position in the hypermarket segment both in Germany and in the foreign stores operated in Poland and Turkey. With Russia and Romania, the company opened up additional high-growth markets in Eastern Europe.
The Real sales division considerably strengthened its position both in domestic and international markets. By entering the market in Romania, and acquiring the competitors Wal-Mart in Germany and Géant in Poland, the company bolstered its long-term competitive position.
In Poland, Real Operates 49 stores, where 30 were originally Real stores and 19 ex-Géant rebranded stores.
Another new retail format under development is the Carrefour Express, a chain of stores ranging from 800 to 2,000 sq m and employing from 20 to 40. These are located in areas with a relatively small number of large retail outlets and a population of 10,000 to 15,000. The project involves building a positive image for Carrefour and converting its Champion and Globi supermarkets into the new Carrefour Express chain. About 35 Champion stores will be rebranded in the first phase of the project, scheduled to last until the end of 2007.
On 1st December 2006, Carrefour, through its wholly owned Polish subsidiary, Carrefour Polska entered into a Preliminary Share Purchase Agreement with Ahold Polska B.V. and Koninklijke Ahold N.V. to acquire 100 % of the share capital of Ahold Polska.
Ahold Polska operates 171 Albert supermarkets, 15 Hypernova hypermarkets and 4 petrol stations.
The acquisition by Carrefour of Ahold Polska aims at reinforcing its position in Poland to face the high competitive pressure of the leading international and national retailers.
After purchasing 50.1% of the shares of Chris Cash and Carry, Carrefour took over the Management of Chris Cash and Carry on August 18th 2005.
As per the takeover agreement, the name Chris Cash and Carry was supposed to remain for a period of four years and the name GROUPE CARREFOUR will be added to its neon signs and letterheads. But today while visiting CCC in Larnaca, I noticed that the name was already changed into 100% Carrefour.
After many years with local supermarkets as lonely players in the retail business in Malta, already 2 stores opened their doors with direct links to 2 of the major retailers in France, Carrefour and Auchan.
But due to the strong relation between Malta and Italy, these links we established with the Italian subsidiaries of Carrefour & Auchan.
Three-quarters of the food is purchased in supermarkets. Their dominance on the UK high street means producers and suppliers in developing countries have little choice but to deal with them in order to reach the UK shopper.
This gives supermarkets tremendous power, power which is often being misused. The pressure on suppliers to deliver more for less is passed on to workers in the form of low wages, job insecurity and poor working conditions. It is women in particular who find that their already disadvantaged position in the labour market makes them vulnerable to attempts by suppliers to drive down pay and conditions.
“We are paying for the price wars between supermarkets in your country.” Costa Rican banana supplier to UK supermarkets.
