Traditional stores till strong in Poland

Though the number of hyper markets is growing in Poland, their market share is shrinking. At the same time, supermarkets and discount stores have increased their market share. Traditional stores are successful in retaining their market position. The process of concentration in retail is progressing at a much slower pace in Poland, than in Hungary, or the Czech Republic. The stores space of 98 per cent of retail units is less than 300 square meters. According to the Nielsen survey, some store types still exist in Poland which have disappeared in other EU countries a log time ago. Street pavilions sell cosmetics and body care products, and there are still 6,500 general stores which mainly sell chemical products. In addition to 4,000 drugstores, there are another 4,000 perfumeries. The number of tobacco stores is over 1,000, while 2,700 fruit and vegetable markets operate. Traditional stores account for 56 per cent of total food sales and 44 per cent of chemical products, compared to 55 and 41 per cent a year earlier. At the same time, the market share of modern distribution channels dropped from 42 to 41 per cent last year. Though 23 new hyper markets were opened in 2007, their market share in food products dropped form 15 to 13 per cent, while their share in household chemical and cosmetics decreased from 29 to 25 per cent. However, the hyper market channel was in turmoil last year. Géant units were acquired by Real, a Metro subsidiary. Hypernova stores of Ahold were transferred to t Carrefour, which has thus become the number one chain.