Mercator S takes over supermarket chain Familija market

The Company Mercator-S will take over the commercial activities of Familija market, in the business premises of the company Department store Beograd under the contract on strategic partnership signed today by the three companies, said Mercator-S.

Contracts to lease 27 facilities of Department stores Beograd, in which Familija Market operates, shall become effective upon approval of the Competition Commission of Serbia, it was said in the statement.

In this way, the company, Mercator-S reinforces the position of the second-largest retail chain in Serbia.

The contract between the department stores Beograd and Mercator-S is designed for long-term lease of 27 buildings in Belgrade, Vojvodina and southern Serbia, the total area of ​​which is over 22,000 square meters (m2).

The transaction includes an agreement between the Familija market and the Mercator-S on taking inventory and equipment in these shops, as well as recruitment of Familija market staff.

With total investment of EUR 24 million in Serbia, in 2011, Mercator-S plans to provide 50,000 m2 of new office space.

'The expansion of retail network, which will, beside the facilities in Belgrade and Vojvodina, include retail stores in cities where we have not been present, such as Zaječar, Valjevo, Vranje, Pirot, Užice, Bajina Bašta, Bor and Knjaževac, also means the employment of 300 new associates, ' said a board member of Mercator Group for the area of Mercator trade in ​​Southeast Europe, Stanka Čurović.

Mercator Group is one of the most important investors in Serbia, which has so far invested more than $ 450 million.

Only this year Mercator opened stores in Vrbas, Smederevo, Mladenovac, Futog and Jagodina, it was stated.

According to the medium-term development strategy, Mercator Group is planning to invest nearly EUR 150 million more by 2015 in Serbia.

Mercator is one of the largest employers in Serbia, which after the expansion of retail network, in their companies Mercator-S, Intersport and Modiana employ over 4600 staff, it was said in the statement.