Largest Romanian pet retailer opens 2 new stores

Animax, the largest pet retailer in Romania, has reportedly invested €270,000 ($287,937) in 2 new stores, bringing the company’s tally up to 131 stores nationwide.

The first store opened at Cosmopolis Plaza in Bucharest and the second at Carolina Mall in Alba-Iulia in Western Transylvania.

The retailer has experienced positive financial results in 2023. “We recorded a 15% increase in the demand for wet food and accessories in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year,” says to local press Miruna Diaconescu, Marketing Director for Romania at Pet Network International.

More shops

The capital city of Bucharest is home to 29 Animax stores, with the latest addition taking up almost 370 square meters. According to reports, the investment in this building totaled €200,000 ($213,286). The store in Alba-Iulia cost €70,000 ($74,650) and is the first Animax outlet in the city.

The firm plans to open 6 more stores by the end of the year. “We are constantly looking for expansion opportunities through which we can cover strategic areas in Bucharest and the country,” adds Diaconsescu.

Most of the large cities in Romania have at least one Animax. Other key locations include Brașov, Constanța, Iași and Oradea. With over 130 stores and 500 employees, it is Romania’s most extensive pet retailer.

Animax also recently invested €50,000 ($53,321) into digitization and modernizing its online presence. The pet retailer also launched the FideliClub, a loyalty app where customers can get discounts on purchases.