German group Lidl negotiates for Plus chain stores in Romania and Bulgaria

Lidl company, owned by German group Schwarz Group, negotiates with Tengelmann for the discount store chain Plus from Romania and Bulgaria, Novinite.com reads. Tengelmann confirmed that the company was negotiating selling the chains from both countries, but the two groups have not reached a final decision yet.

Plus counts almost 80 stores in Romania. In Bulgaria, Plus currently operates 16 stores and Lidl intends to join this market in spring 2010.

Last year, Lidl announced the company’s intention to open about 50 new stores in Romania in the beginning of 2010. The decision will allow the company to become discount store market leader for the months to follow, counting over 150 stores.

In 2007 and 2008, Plus sold its businesses from most of the European states, keeping its presence on the Austrian, Romanian and Bulgarian markets.

Lidl company owns land (at least) in Medias (Central), Iasi (North-East) and Slobozia (south-East) and is still interested in buying more. The Schwarz group also includes discount policy hypermarkets chain Kaufland, which currently operates 40 stores in Romania.