The Fressnapf Group has taken significant steps in its Southeast European expansion. The opening of its own Fressnapf store in Bucharest is part of a series of a total of 14 locations to be opened in Romania by the end of the year. In the long term, up to 100 stores are planned. In addition to its own expansion of 10 to 15 locations per year, Fressnapf is also growing in Romania through acquisitions. On 1 October, eleven Super Zoo stores and their employees will be taken over (pet already reported). Six stores have already been opened and are gradually being converted into Fressnapf stores, five locations are to be opened in the next few years. In perspective, the online shop and the cross-channel ecosystem will also be established in Romania. “We are delighted to have found great own locations for Fressnapf and to launch in Romania. Also the acquisition of the locations and employees of Super Zoo and its owner Dušan Plaček are a real asset for our aspired market leadership in Romania,” says Fressnapf owner Torsten Toeller.
The business in Romania is managed decentrally via the national company in Hungary. Country Manager is Dániel Kisgergely – about 100 new jobs are to be created in Romania itself by the end of the year. The parties have agreed not to disclose the amount of investment in the company's own expansion and the acquisition of the Super Zoo locations. Across Europe, there are now more than 1 700 Fressnapf and Maxi Zoo stores in eleven countries as well as strong participations in the Arcaplanet Group in Italy (500 stores) and the Unconditional Group in Croatia (30 stores).
In Croatia, there has been a strong partnership with the Unconditional Group since May of this year. The Fressnapf Group is involved in investments in stationary expansion in Croatia and, in the future, in Slovenia, Serbia and Bulgaria. In Croatia, four locations of Super Zoo were also taken over on 1 September, one of which is already open. In addition, Unconditional, under the leadership of company owner Edvard Varda, will open ten more branches in Croatia by the end of 2022 and expand the network to more than 35 locations. The parties have also agreed not to disclose the amount of the investment.
