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Our History & Legacy

GFS has grown from an entrepreneurial initiative in the early years of Romania’s market economy into a diversified investment group with a presence across retail, real estate, energy, education, logistics, financial services and international operations.

 

For over three decades, the group has identified emerging opportunities, built operating businesses and invested in assets with long-term relevance. From pioneering duty free and modern retail concepts to developing educational platforms, restoring historical buildings and expanding into renewable energy, our history reflects a continuous ability to anticipate market shifts and create value.

 

Our legacy is defined by resilience, adaptability and responsible ownership — values that continue to shape the way we invest, operate and develop today.

1993

P&G (Eurocos) –
Domestic & Duty Free

Description: P&G trade mark cosmetics distribution established in the dawn of the post-communist Romanian duty-free market.
 

Brand portfolio: Laura Biagiotti, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Max Factor, Oil of Olaz, Old Spice...

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1993

Department Store Olimp,
Black Sea Coast

Description: One of the first department stores in Romania, located in a very popular Romanian holiday resort.


Key metric: 500,000 customers per season.

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1994

L'Oreal (PBI) 
Domestic & Duty Free

Description: L'Oreal cosmetics distribution.


Brand portfolio: Lancome, Armani, Biotherm...

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1997

Diageo / Remy Cointreau
Domestic & Duty Free

Description: Exclusive distributor for Diageo brands.
 

Brand portfolio: Johnny Walker, Smirnoff, JB, Baileys, Metaxa...
 

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1998

Duty Free Network

Description: GFS Duty Free — leading Romanian Duty Free network.


Portfolio: Diplomatic shop, 24 Duty Free border shops, 2 bounded warehouses.
 

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1999

Logistics Company

Description: ATR – Customs Clearance and Logistics Service.
 

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2000

IT Solutions
Advertising & PR Services


Description: GFS Communication.
 

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2002

Hypermarket Chain

Description: Univers'All — the first Romanian-owned hypermarket chain.
Key metrics: 2,000 employees, 11 hypermarkets, 3 supermarkets.


Notable attendees: Klaus Iohannis, then Mayor of Sibiu and later President of Romania, attended the opening ceremony of the first Univers’All hypermarket.

Steven Seagal and Ilie Năstase attended the opening of the flagship Bucharest store

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2003

Fast Fashion


Description: Fast fashion division — 19 mono-brand stores across Romania.


Brand portfolio: Kookai, Celio, Etam, Minelli, San Marina.

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2003

Hongta Tobacco
Group Co. Ltd.


Description: Exclusive partnership for the HTG portfolio, resulting in the successful launch of the Marble brand of cigarettes

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2004

Financial Service


Description:

Ticket Plus Service — vouchers and gift cards.

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2006

Coffee Stores


Description: Costa Coffee coffeehouse chain in Romania

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2006

Education


Description: Ioanid School and Kindergarten — located in the heart of Bucharest, providing leading quality in private education.

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2006

Synthetic Diamonds
Industry

Description: Rami Dacia — the only European synthetic diamond manufacturer. Founded in 1976 during the communist regime as a key asset of Romania's new strategic industry.

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2010

Wind Farm

Description: Blue Planet: Baia Project (35 MW).

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2011

Amusement Park

Description: Terra Park — the first amusement park in Romania.


Notable attendees: Mr. Richard Daley (legendary mayor of Chicago); Ms. Nadia Comăneci (Athlete of the 20th Century) at the opening ceremony in Bucharest.

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2012

Real Estate

Description: Regaining the historical heritage of Bucharest — over 11,500 square meters in total area, restored "one by one, piece by piece."


Featured asset: Academiei Business Center.
 

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2013

Libya

Description: Duty free shop in Tripoli Airport

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2017

Malawi


Description: Duty Free Shop in Lilongwe Airport.
 

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2018

Algeria



Description: Duty free shops in Constantine and Setif airports.

 

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Winston Churchill

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see"
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32 Olari Street,

Sector 2,

​

Bucharest,

ROMANIA 

tel: +40.723.20.89.67

mail: contact@gfs.ro

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