Small stores closing in the north-west

According to data from ACNielsen, the total number of food stores shrunk by 5 per cent last year, with less than 22 thousand such stores operating at the end of 2006. The north-western region of the country saw the biggest reduction in the number of food stores, while the smallest reduction took place in the south-eastern region. Latest data from the Nielsen Census show that the market shares of the two biggest channels, hyper markets and domestic retail chains both grew, whereas the share of discount stores grew even more. Independent, small stores only accounted for 14 per cent of the total number. Last year the combined number of Lidl, Penny Market, Plus and Profi stores grew by 32 units, to 464. Lidl continues to be the main force behind expansion with a network of 68 stores opened since 2004. There were 109 hyper markets and 374 supermarkets at the end of 2006.