Eastern Europe

Pharmacies continued to drive growth of health and beauty specialists in 2022, holding the highest value share and number of outlets. Recording double-digit growth in 2022, pharmacies benefited from a positive performance throughout the pandemic as…

General merchandise stores is only represented by variety stores in Romania, which in itself is an underdeveloped retail channel, and one which remains unfamiliar to the majority of local consumers. Variety stores has never really developed as a…

The performance of discounters in 2022 was the result of the low shelf price for many of the products on offer through this channel, but also proximity and convenience. The low prices offered by discounters are due to the high share of private label…

Direct selling faced significant challenges during the pandemic, especially in 2020 as the strict approach taken to social distancing made it difficult for direct selling agents to make appointments to visit their customers, with quarantine lockdowns…

The growth of convenience retailers in 2022 was the result of the benefits provided by proximity shopping in the case of convenience stores, and rising footfall through forecourt retailers due to greater mobility outside of the home as Romania…

This report assesses the business environment in Slovenia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Slovakia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

The dynamics of appliances and electronics specialists in 2022 was the continuation of strong current value growth witnessed during the pandemic, when restrictions and seclusion resulted in a greater focus on creating home offices and entertainment…

Following a rebound in 2021 after the declines of 2020 due to the pandemic and home seclusion, value sales through apparel and footwear specialists fully recovered to 2019 levels in 2022. This was due to greater mobility outside of the home following…

This report assesses the business environment in Croatia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT…

Vending saw a second year of current value growth in 2022, fully recovering from the decline seen in the first year of the pandemic. Key drivers of sales in this channel, such as foot traffic and daily routine, tended to look similar to the…

Supermarkets saw growth in the first half of 2022 thanks to a boost from the return by some consumers to daily grocery shopping, as the COVID-19 pandemic eased and the last restrictions were lifted in early spring 2022. Therefore, loyal consumers in…

Financing the operations of small local grocers amidst rapidly growing operational expenses, and keeping pace with modern grocery retailers in terms of price, is difficult for many players. This was exacerbated from February 2022, when the Hungarian…

Retailers, manufacturers and consumers were only able to give a short sigh of relief after the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic eased. The country reopened totally from the lockdowns and various measures limiting shopping, travelling, and leisure…

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdowns, mandatory outlet closures and shorter opening hours, and kept shoppers away from bricks-and-mortar stores in 2020 and 2021, leading more consumers to move online to shop. Therefore, although retail…

Hypermarkets saw strong current value growth in 2022, continuing the rising trend seen throughout the review period. This was despite the fact that none of the three hypermarket operators launched new outlets in this year. The once-intensive outlet…

Home products specialists saw dynamic current value growth in 2020 and 2021. Consumers, realising that they would be spending an extended period of time at home, and wanting to make their environment more comfortable, brought forward smaller home…

Health and beauty specialists maintained current value growth in 2022, with increases seen across all channels. Those that sell necessities (pharmacies, heath and personal care stores) saw continued growth, while those selling less essential products…

Due to the absence of department stores in Hungary, general merchandise stores is made up solely of variety stores. Underperforming variety stores were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially independent ones working with lower…