Auchan Romania has opened its 50th Simply by Auchan franchise store, continuing its expansion in the proximity segment. Active in 14 counties across the country, these stores serve both urban and rural communities, supporting the growth of local Romanian entrepreneurship. Through this program, launched in June 2024, the retailer provides franchisees with a complete package of products, services, and support, facilitating the development of successful businesses in modern retail.
The first 50 Simply by Auchan stores are located in the counties of Argeș, Brașov, Buzău, Călărași, Constanța, Dâmbovița, Dolj, Giurgiu, Ialomița, Ilfov, Olt, Prahova, Teleorman, as well as in Bucharest. The highest demand for the franchise format comes from Ilfov County, which already hosts 8 stores.
Simply by Auchan stores range in size from 50 to 350 square meters and offer customers a diverse range of up to 4,000 items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen goods, groceries, Auchan private label products with the best quality-price ratio, as well as non-food items such as cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and pet care products.
Currently, most partners operating Simply by Auchan stores are local entrepreneurs who aim to benefit from the added value Auchan brings to a highly competitive market. Moreover, owning a commercial space is not a mandatory requirement, as the company offers constant support both before and after opening the store. Among the franchisees are also individuals with no prior retail experience, whose stores have achieved remarkable results.
Who can operate a Simply by Auchan franchise?
Potential franchisees, whether they already own a commercial space or plan to develop one, benefit from operational support provided by Auchan. This includes rethinking the store’s image and layout, transforming it through the introduction of modern elements that enhance its appeal, suggestions for improving the product assortment, access to an easy-to-use product ordering platform, reopening support, and ongoing operational assistance from dedicated staff. Franchisees also receive a training package with operational information about the Auchan ecosystem, trading under the Auchan brand, and the Simply franchise system.
According to company representatives, the investment recovery period required to join the Auchan franchise network generally does not exceed two years. However, this may vary depending on the specific characteristics of each business.
Benefits of the Simply by Auchan franchise
As part of this long-term partnership, built on professionalism, innovation, and continuous support, Auchan offers retail entrepreneurs several advantages and benefits, including:
- Access to Auchan’s private label product
- Inclusion in the Auchan brand ecosystem, with all the associated benefits
- Collaboration with a well-known market brand in terms of service quality and consumer pricing
About Auchan
Auchan Romania has a portfolio of over 490 stores, including 26 classic hypermarkets, 8 ATAC Hiper Discount hypermarkets, 9 supermarkets, the smart Auchan Go store, nearly 400 ultra-proximity MyAuchan stores (most located in Petrom stations), 50 Simply by Auchan franchise stores, as well as the online store auchan.ro. With a 2024 gross turnover of over €1.7 billion, Auchan offers residents in the cities where its stores are present a modern, omnichannel retail experience, with the widest range of products and a responsible discount concept, featuring low prices every day.