How the National Census Transforms Retail Strategy and Market Intelligence

You’re expanding your brand’s presence in Romania and you have products ready, a distribution plan in place, and a vision for growth. But here are the questions that often go unasked: do you truly understand the retail landscape? Are you placing your products in the right stores? Are there untapped opportunities that your competitors are leveraging while you remain unaware?

As market specialists, we’ve seen one thing hold true across every category: brands don’t fail because of bad products. They fail because they misunderstand the market.

Market understanding is a cornerstone of growth, but too frequently taken for granted. Businesses often assume they have sufficient knowledge of their distribution network, store placement, and competition, but in reality, retail landscapes are dynamic, and data gaps can lead to inefficiencies.

Romanian Retail Landscape Demands Precision

The Romanian retail sector, like most in Europe, is shifting rapidly. Economic shifts, urbanization, migration patterns, and inflation have all influenced how and where consumers shop. On one street, you’ll find high-end gourmet stores. A few blocks over, discount outlets dominate. Across towns and regions, brand presence, shopper behavior, and supply chain structure vary dramatically.

According to Retail Data Monitoring, only 61% of on-trade businesses and 92% of off-trade businesses source directly from distributors, showing the variety of supply chains that influence retail availability. Meanwhile, less than 2% of retailers rely on e-commerce channels to source goods, reinforcing that physical retail remains critical to volume and visibility.

You can’t navigate this complexity with partial data. You need a complete, verified, and dynamic retail map. 

A 360° View of Romania’s Retail Market

Unlike general market reports, the National Retail Census goes beyond estimates. It offers a factual, store-level view of Romania’s retail ecosystem, covering over 68,000 outlets across 3,200 cities and 4,422 sectors. The census includes a diverse range of retail formats: universal stores, food stores, kiosks, specialty shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and more.

This extensive coverage allows businesses to see the market in real time, identifying high-performing stores, evaluating distribution gaps, and uncovering new growth opportunities. 

Key Census Insights

• Know your market. Identify the best-performing outlets and where your brand stands among competitors.

• Enhance distribution. Ensure your products are available in the right locations, avoiding supply gaps.

• Uncover growth potential. Find stores selling competing products that don’t yet stock yours.

• Optimize supply chains. Gain visibility into sourcing patterns and improve supplier relations.

• Strengthen retailer & brand collaboration. Understand key retailer expectations to improve partnerships.

  
  

Retailers: The Competitive Edge You Need

For retailers, the National Retail Census is a benchmarking powerhouse. It provides deep insights into store performance, category handling, and growth opportunities, helping businesses refine their strategies with fact-based decisions.

Through Retail Universe Mapping, retailers can pinpoint areas for investment, optimize product placement, and ensure they are stocking the right products for their customer base. The data enables businesses to eliminate inefficiencies and focus on revenue-generating opportunities.

• Rank among competitors. Know how your store compares within your sector.

• Discover high-performing categories. Invest in the right products for higher revenue.

• Refine supplier relations. Data-backed insights help you negotiate smarter sourcing deals.

Brands & Distributors: Maximizing Market Reach

For brands and distributors, the Retail Census is the ultimate tool for expansion. It provides precise data on where products should be available but aren’t, helping companies fine-tune distribution strategies and track product performance across different store types.

Many brands assume they have full market penetration, but the data often tells a different story. There are thousands of outlets that match the ideal criteria for your products but don’t currently stock them. Identifying and targeting these locations can lead to immediate and measurable sales growth.

• Identify new sales channels. Locate underserved areas and expand presence.

• Optimize supply strategies. Ensure your products are stocked in the most profitable locations.

• Track market trends. Gain an accurate view of product performance across different retail categories.

How the Census Works

This national census is not just about numbers, it’s built on a precise, multi-layered methodology ensuring accuracy and reliability.

✔ Comprehensive Field Audits – A team of 248 auditors covers thousands of retail locations.

✔ Digital Data Collection – Electronic questionnaires and real-time tracking ensure accuracy.

✔ Advanced Store Profiling – GPS mapping, outlet classification, and sales tracking provide in-depth insights.

✔ Expert-Led Supervision – 12 Area Managers and 3 Regional Managers oversee quality control.

✔ Online Dashboards & Analytics – Get instant access to trends, benchmarks, and strategic data.

With over 3,200 cities and 4,422 sectors analyzed, businesses gain a complete market snapshot to guide decision-making.

Are You Ready to See the Market with Clarity?

At Retail Data Monitoring (RDM), we specialize in delivering real-time, actionable retail insights. Our census methodology is designed to empower brands, retailers, and distributors with precise, location-based market intelligence.

If you’re ready to make data-driven decisions that fuel growth, contact us.