Popovici Nitu Stoica and Asociatii has advised Auchan Retail Romania on its agreement with OMV Petrom to place 400 MyAuchan stores in the entire Petrom network over the next five years.
According to an OMV Petrom press release, up to 2,500 food and non-food products will be available in MyAuchan proximity stores in Petrom filling stations. In addition, "the existing shop area in the filling station will be refurbished and will offer customers the option for MyAuchan proximity shopping. The refurbishment of the shops is planned to be performed during the next years."
The project is part of OMV Petrom's plans to modernize Petrom filling stations, which will also include the replacement of brand identity elements and equipment in the outdoor area of the pumps and related services such as carwashes and LPG fueling.
Radu Caprau, member of OMV Petrom's Executive Board, explained that “extending the partnership with Auchan Retail Romania to the entire Petrom filling stations network is an important step, but also a milestone in our strategy to improve our customers’ experience. With only one stop, our customers will be able to shop for their groceries while fueling their cars, thus saving time. This is a unique and innovative approach on the Romanian market and meets the expectations of the modern consumers and of the young generation, whose daily schedules are dynamic and alert. We continue in this way the successful story and we consolidate our position for the best quality-price ratio in the Romanian fuel retail."
The cooperation between OMV Petrom and Auchan Retail Romania started in 2017 with a pilot phase in which MyAuchan proximity stores were opened in Petrom filling stations in both urban and rural areas in Romania. During this phase, the purpose was to test the business model and to assess the potential of this collaboration. In February 2019, OMV Petrom and Auchan Retail Romania signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to analyze the extension of the collaboration into a long-term partnership. The memorandum was approved by the Competition Council in July last year. At the end of 2019, OMV Petrom and Auchan Retail Romania had 17 MyAuchan proximity stores in Petrom filling stations.
PNSA's team included Partners Bogdan Stoica, Mihaela Ion, and Irina Ivanciu, Managing Associates Laura Ambrozie, Luana Dragomirescu, and Ioana Cazacu, Senior Associate Vanessa Nistor, and Associate Claudia Salomia.
Schoenherr's Bucharest team included Partner Oana Constantinescu and Managing Attorney Mara Moga Paler.
