Retail in 2024: The big picture
Retail in Poland saw a rise in overall value sales in 2024, though growth was lower than that recorded in recent years. High interest rates on loans have affected the costs of debt financing and weakened demand for more expensive goods, such as consumer durables.
Poland is witnessing a growing trend of unmanned stores and self-service checkouts
In July 2024, the first automatic store was launched by Dino Polska, a supermarket operator. The second automatic store was opened by the bakery chain Goraco Polecam.
Poland's deposit-refund system: a step towards sustainability
The launching of the deposit-refund system in Poland is a hot topic in Polish retail industry. The system was expected to start from 1 January 2025 but has been postponed to 1 October 2025.
What next for retail?
In 2025, Polish consumers are likely to maintain a cautious approach to spending as they work to replenish their savings eroded by high inflation. Independent and small retailers will continue to grapple with rising costs, growing competition - especially in smaller towns and city outskirts - and intense price wars from discounter stores.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax is certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Retail industry in Poland with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Convenience Stores
- Discounters
- Hypermarkets
- Supermarkets
- Traditional Grocery Retailers
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers
- Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers
- Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
- Home and Garden Specialist Retailers
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Warehouse Clubs
- Direct Selling
- Homeshopping
- Vending
If you're in the Retail industry in Poland, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Retail in Poland report includes:
- Analysis of key retail trends
- Detailed segmentation of offline and online retail sales
- Historic channel sizes (retail value sales, outlet counts, and selling space)
- Company and brand market shares (retail value sales and outlet counts)
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Retail in Poland?
- Which are the leading retailers in Retail in Poland?
- How are products distributed in Retail in Poland?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- How significant are discounters and private label in Poland?
- To what extent are sales shifting towards digital channels?
- What is the long-term outlook for bricks-and-mortar?
- How is macroeconomic and political uncertainty affecting the retail industry?
- What types of retailers are seeing the fastest growth in digital sales?
- What is the future of retail?
Retail in Poland
Retail in 2024: The big picture
Poland is witnessing a growing trend of unmanned stores and self-service checkouts
Poland's deposit-refund system: a step towards sustainability
What next for retail?
Informal retail
Opening hours for physical retail
Seasonality
Christmas
Easter
DISCLAIMER
Convenience Retailers in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Slowed growth for convenience stores in 2024
Zabka and Easy Auchan stand out in terms of development
Polish retail player acquires foreign competitor
Future growth to be fuelled by changing consumer habits.
Zabka announces further expansion
Eurocash is establishing a new retail buying group
Supermarkets in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Supermarkets performs well in 2024
Dino enjoys period of rapid growth, while Auchan launches Scan&Go service
E.Leclerc restructures while Spar chain struggles
Further development forecast for supermarkets
Supermarket retailers to form long-term purchasing alliances
Dino and Specjal Group hold strong growth potential
Hypermarkets in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Hypermarkets sees value sales fall in 2024
Operators reduce floorspace in response to evolving demand
Auchan tests new low-cost hypermarket format in Poland - Atac Hiper Discount by Auchan
A challenging competitive environment for hypermarkets
Further downsizing is expected
Hypermarkets need to adapt to survive
Discounters in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Economic situation favours discounters
Biedronka and Lidl locked in fierce price wars
Aldi expands its market presence
Discounters in Poland poised for continued growth
Biedronka set to expand further
Ambitious plans for network development by Aldi and Netto
Small Local Grocers in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Small local grocers as a shrinking channel
Sokolów does well in 2024
Food/drink/tobacco specialists declines due to the liquidation of unprofitable outlets
Fierce competition expected from modern grocery retailers
Healthy food sales are shifting online
Increasingly restrictive regulations for tobacco and alcoholic drinks
General Merchandise Stores in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Challenges for department stores in Poland in 2024
Woolworth’s accelerated expansion
Consumer trends favour variety stores
Department stores to combine tradition with modernity to offer customers a unique shopping experience
Expansion of new networks will boost channel growth
Malaysian retail chain MR DIY set to grow store network as Armagan Toys expands across Europe
Apparel and Footwear Specialists in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Stagnating sales for apparel and footwear specialists
LPP: a focus on value and digital innovations
Consumers increasingly interested in sustainable fashion
Number of apparel and footwear stores set to shrink
Retailers will invest in omnichannel concepts
Rising consumer preference for second-hand goods and sustainable options
Appliances and Electronics Specialists in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Cautious spending to stagnation in sales for appliances and electronics specialists
Media Expert expands range of stores while MediaMarkt opens new stores in Xpress format
Neonet faces challenges and undergoes restructuring
Demand depends on broader economic climate
Retailers will diversify their product offerings to capture a wider customer base
Neonet's restructuring aims to improve financial performance
Home Products Specialists in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Homewares and home furnishing stores falls in 2024
Premiumisation and value-added services drive sales of pet shops and superstores
Ikea offers lower prices to customers
Projected rebound for homewares and home furnishing stores
Channel concentration and additional services in home improvement and gardening stores
Castorama Polska to play pivotal role within Kingfisher Group, while PSB Mrowka focuses on retail parks
Health and Beauty Specialists in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health and beauty specialists remains key to sales in cosmetics
Major retail chains are strengthening their market presence
The number of pharmacies continues to decline in Poland
Health and beauty specialists set to show continued rise in value sales over the forecast period
Optical goods stores will remain dominated by independent retailers
Competitive landscape continues to evolve
Vending in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Vending operators adapt their offerings in line with emerging trends
PKP Intercity installs vending machines dispensing coffee and snacks on its trains.
Apis Natural Cosmetics launches its first cosmetic vending machine
Optimistic future for vending in Poland
PHZ Baltona will have the exclusive right to operate vending services at Warsaw Chopin Airport
PKN Orlen intends to invest in a vending machine network
Direct Selling in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Difficult year for direct selling
Vorwerk leads the channel
Parent company’s bankruptcy impacts Avon’s business in Poland
Slow development of direct selling expected
Changes in sales structure
Foreign direct selling companies are renewing interest in Poland
Retail E-Commerce in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth remains in double-digit figures
Allegro remains undisputed leader of retail e-commerce
Retailer-run marketplaces gather pace
Substantial growth prospects for retail e-commerce in Poland
Polish retailers are expanding onto global e-commerce platforms
Despite several challenges, e-grocery sales will rise during forecast period
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Retail
-
-
-
- Convenience Stores
- Forecourt Retailers
- Supermarkets
- Hypermarkets
- Discounters
- Warehouse Clubs
- Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists
- Small Local Grocers
-
-
-
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Apparel and Footwear Specialists
- Appliances and Electronics Specialists
-
- Home Improvement and Gardening Stores
- Homewares and Home Furnishing Stores
- Pet Shops and Superstores
-
- Beauty Specialists
- Pharmacies
- Optical Goods Stores
- Health and Personal Care Stores
-
- Bags and Luggage Specialists
- Jewellery and Watch Specialists
- Sports Goods Stores
- Traditional Toys and Games Stores
- Other Non-Grocery Retailers
-
-
- Fashion Vending
- Health and Beauty Vending
- Appliances and Electronics Vending
-
- Alcoholic Drinks Vending
- Hot Drinks Vending
- Soft Drinks Vending
- Tobacco Products Vending
- Foods Vending
- Home Products Vending
- Other Products Vending
-
-
- Apparel and Footwear Direct Selling
- Personal Accessories Direct Selling
- Eyewear Direct Selling
-
- Beauty and Personal Care Direct Selling
- Consumer Health Direct Selling
- Tissue and Hygiene Direct Selling
- Appliances and Electronics Direct Selling
- Drinks and Tobacco Direct Selling
- Foods Direct Selling
- Home Products Direct Selling
- Other Products Direct Selling
-
-
-
-
-
- Apparel and Footwear E-Commerce
- Personal Accessories E-Commerce
- Eyewear E-Commerce
-
- Beauty and Personal Care E-Commerce
- Consumer Health E-Commerce
- Tissue and Hygiene E-Commerce
-
- Consumer Appliances E-Commerce
- Consumer Electronics E-Commerce
- Toys and Games E-Commerce
- Drinks and Tobacco E-Commerce
- Foods E-Commerce
-
- Home Care E-Commerce
- Home and Garden E-Commerce
- Pet Care E-Commerce
- Other Products E-Commerce
-
-
-
- First-Party (1P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Third-Party (3P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Grocery E-Commerce
- General Merchandiser E-Commerce
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist E-Commerce
- Appliances and Electronics Specialist E-Commerce
- Home Products Specialist E-Commerce
- Health and Beauty Specialist E-Commerce
- Leisure and Personal Goods Specialist E-Commerce
- Other E-Commerce Retailers
-
-
Retail
Retail is the sale of new and used goods to consumers from a business for personal or household consumption from retail outlets, kiosks, market stalls, vending, direct selling and e-commerce. Retail is the aggregation of Retail Offline and Retail E-Commerce. Excludes specialist retailers of motor vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle parts. Also excludes fuel sales, foodservice sales, rental transactions, and wholesale sales (e.g. Cash and Carry). Sales value excluding or including VAT/Sales Tax. Retail also excludes the informal retail sector. Informal retailing is retail trade which is not declared to the tax authorities. Informal retailing encompasses (a) sales generated by unregistered and unlicensed retailers, i.e. retailers operating illegally, and (b) any proportion of sales generated by a registered and licensed retailer that is not declared to the tax authorities. Unregistered and unlicensed retailers operate predominantly (although not exclusively) as street hawkers or operate open market stalls, as these channels are harder for the authorities to monitor than permanent outlets. Activities in the illegal market, which is usually understood to refer to trade in illegal, counterfeit or stolen merchandise, are included within our definition of informal retailing. Activities in the “grey market”, which is usually understood to refer to trade in legal merchandise that is sold through unauthorized channels – for example cigarettes bought legally in another country, legally imported, but sold at lower prices than in authorized channels – will be included as informal retailing if no tax is paid on sale by the retailer. However if the retailer pays tax – for example on cigarettes bought legally in another country but sold at a lower price than standard – the sale is included within formal retail.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Retail research and analysis database.
NEW REPORT GUARANTEE
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!