Aspects of the Romanian Food Retail Market

• Author: Chitu, I.B. - Tecau A.S.
• Position: Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov - Dept. of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 25-30

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 7 (56) • No. 1 - 2014

ASPECTS OF THE ROMANIAN FOOD

RETAIL MARKET

I.B. CHIXU1 A.S. TEC;U2

Abstract: Starting from the strategic importance of trade in the

development of any society, the paper aims at highlighting a series of

aspects, typical to the Romanian market, in terms of commercial activity.

This way, we will first submit an overview of the evolution, followed by

inland trade in Romania; then we analyze retail in the food industry, as a

significant part of the Romanians’ consumption expenditure is still targeted

towards this type of consumption.

Key words: retail trade, consumption expenditures, store chain.

1 Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Braşov.

2 Dept. of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Introduction

According to the concept of sustainable

societal development, trade has strategic

importance for the balanced and viable

development of the economic-social

systems in any country, it represents one of

the most important sides of modern

economy and it has thereby turned into the

main element of market economy,

regardless of its form [2].

In addition to rendering available a great

variety of goods for the population, which

leads to increased wellness and living

standards, trade significantly contributes to

the formation of the Gross Domestic

Product, and is one of the greatest employers

in the Romanian economy; for instance, the

first 10 retailers on the Romanian market

had 50.000 employees in 2012, 12,5% more

than the previous year [7].

The Green Paper of the European Trade

specified that, “as major decisive factor of

the social and cultural styles, of lifestyles

and of spatial planning, trade constitutes

the cornerstone of the European socio-

economic model” [6].

The activities conducted throughout the

European Union have already been

influencing commercial life in many ways,

the trade indirectly benefiting from the

politics it promotes in fields such as

regional development, environment

protection, consumer protection, research,

labour force qualification [1].

The retail trade throughout the European

Union underwent a monitoring exercise

launched in early 2009. This sector was

chosen due to its importance in the

economic-social life, as it represented

(year 2009) 4,2% of the European Union’s

Gross Domestic product, 17,4 million

persons, 20% of the European Small and

Medium Enterprises and influenced

numerous economic activities both

upstream and downhill. The conclusions of

this monitoring were used in order to

sketch the measures that might be adopted

for a better functioning of the inland

market in this sector. These measures aim