Fewer small groceries in Poland

2010-02-23

In 2009 the number of small grocery stores fell by 5,500 to 128,600, Euromonitor has reported. By the end of 2009 there were around 160,000 stores offering foodstuffs in Poland.
In comparison with 2008 the number of hypermarkets increased by 11.1% to around 400 establishments, supermarkets by 5% to around 2,000 stores, and discount chains by 10.1% to 2,100. However, the large retail chains account for only between 40% and 50% of the market in Poland, whereas in the Western European countries the figure is 70%.
Despite the recession, the value of the Polish retail market increased by 4.4% to PLN 153bn (€38.2bn) in 2009. Nevertheless, in 2010, the market is expected to grow by only 1% to PLN 154.5bn (€38.6bn), according to Euromonitor estimates. In turn, retailers expect the market to increase significantly, as demand for food is, in theory, immune to a crisis. However, because of the recession customers have abandoned shopping at small stores and tend to buy food at discount chain shops and supermarkets, where prices are lower.