Auchan hypermarket, integrated into the RIVUS project

RIVUS, the industrial reconversion and urban regeneration project proposed by IULIUS in Cluj-Napoca, is currently in the building permitting phase and Cluj-Napoca de IULIUS and will likely feature the most diverse mix of uses, namely retail, culture, office, entertainment, services, park, and relaxation spaces. The investment estimated upwards of 500 million Euro by companies IULIUS and Atterbury Europe will include Auchan as anchor retailer in the food hypermarket segment. Auchan, one of the strongest players on the food retail market, is preparing a new hypermarket concept spanning more than 6,000 sqm for RIVUS Cluj-Napoca, featuring an innovative format, adapted to the central location and the vision of the mixed-use project.

Auchan is a long-standing retail partner of IULIUS, being present in most of the group’s projects: Palas Iași, Iulius Town Timișoara, Iulius Mall Suceava and Iulius Mall Cluj, as well as Family Market Bucium and Family Market Miroslava. In 2024, the Auchan marked its 18 years anniversary in Romania, becoming one of the most extensive multi-format networks with 440-plus stores nationwide and a daily average upwards of 350,000 clients.

RIVUS is a concept tailored to the necessities of one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Romania and following the principles of the ‘15-minute city’, wherein nearby residents are provided with multiple everyday use facilities within walkable distance. “RIVUS is a regional scale project and our largest investment to this date. We built a wonderful partnership with Auchan as early as 2007, when our collaboration was also based in a project in Cluj-Napoca, namely Iulius Mall. We are delighted that RIVUS project will include an Auchan hypermarket, based on our successful previous collaboration and the partner’s capacity to develop customized concepts, in line with the values and requirements of our projects, as was the case for Palas Iași back in 2012, where they opened the first Auchan City format in Romania, with excellent performances. The Auchan hypermarket in RIVUS will have a new format, tailored to the premium concept of the project, for which we are preparing a complete mix, with regional and national premieres not only in the retail segment, but also in terms of the leisure, cultural, entertainment and edutainment offer,” said Oana Diaconescu, Head of Leasing Retail IULIUS.

The Auchan hypermarket in RIVUS will represent a key goal of the retailer’s development direction, offering modern high-quality omnichannel commerce, the widest range of products and a responsible discount concept, with all low prices every single day.

“The new Auchan hypermarket in Cluj-Napoca marks a premiere in our network, being designed as a bona fide concept store, a state-of-the-art format revised and adapted to the client profile expected to patronize this innovative project. The store offer will continue to carry the specialized product ranges and Auchan’s flagship products, as well as an extensive assortment of bio, eco and healthy food products, a new flower shop concept, dining area and take-away products, as well as an optimized store layout. We are confident that Auchan RIVUS will provide clients with a modern experience, while remaining true to our commitment to ensure low prices and sustainable trade every single day. We are delighted to be able to share the difference that Auchan makes in even more stores in Cluj,” said Ioana Toșa, Sales Manager for Auchan Retail Romania.

RIVUS Cluj-Napoca will include the largest leasable retail area in Romania (145,000 sqm), premium office spaces, and premiering cultural, entertainment and edutainment solutions, as well as an ample garden built from scratch and spanning more than 5 hectares, that will enable access to and interactivity with the Someș river for the first time ever. The project will also integrate two buildings from the former industrial site, the only ones that experts assessment reports deemed to carry ambient-related value and to be practicable for safe repurposing. The red brick administrative building and an arcade roof hall will be restored and repurposed for cultural and entrepreneurial uses. RIVUS will accommodate a live arts center and an auditorium, the first ones ever in a real-estate project, Fresh Market for local producers, more than 400 stores, including regional and national premieres, entertainment centers for all ages, the latest cinema technologies, sport & wellness uses, services, and more than 30 concept-restaurants and coffee shops.

About Auchan

Auchan Romania has 430-plus stores in its portfolio, which is comprised of 29 classic hypermarkets, 4 ATAC Hiper Discount hypermarkets, 7 supermarkets, the Auchan Go store, approximately 400 MyAuchan ultra-convenience stores, mostly located in Petrom gas stations, 8 Simply by Auchan franchise stores, as well as the auchan.ro online store. With a turnover before tax upwards of 1.6 billion Euro in 2023, Auchan provides the residents of the cities where it operates with modern high-quality omnichannel commerce, the widest ranges of products and a responsible discount concept, with all the low prices every single day.