Tesco is preparing to make a major impact on the fledgling supermarket scene in Romania. That was the view of local food industry figures in the eastern European state as they gathered in the Carpathian mountains for Romanian grocery's major trade conference.
But, while delegates predicted the chain's imminent arrival in Bucharest, the word from Tesco HQ was that Romania was not on its immediate schedule.
During the Retail Network 2003 conference, sponsored by Unilever and Nestlé, one supplier told The Grocer: "Tesco is admired for its Hungarian success. Bucharest, with its two million increasingly wealthy inhabitants, must be on its radar screen. We will welcome it with open arms."
And Roxana Baciu, editor of Progresiv magazine, the conference organisers, added: "With EU membership in prospect for 2007, international retailers are seizing the opportunity to enhance their presence in Romania."
Tesco's practice of advertising prices at its Hungarian stores just across the border has prompted speculation that it would follow Metro, Carrefour, Rewe and Delhaize into Romania.

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