Central and Eastern Europe: key retail moves

Studenac continues acquisition spree in Croatia

Following the acquisition of Pemo, which has already received regulatory approval, Studenac has become Croatia’s largest retailer by store count. Pemo operated nearly 40 stores and so its purchase by Studenac will take the latter’s store count to nearly 750. Studenac has expanded through acquisition in recent years, acquiring three retailers ince 2019: Istarski Supermarketi, Sonik, and Bure Trgovina.

Zabka Nano staffless stores available at 25 locations in Poland

Poland’s Zabka has launched 25 autonomous Nano stores, which are powered by AiFi technology. The retailer said the Nano stores operated across several formats, including ‘standalone container-based vending machines, traditional brick-and-mortar and store-within-a-store points of sale’. The first Nano store was opened in June 2021 and so the retailer, with AiFi, has opened 25 stores in six months. The stores have been opened across a wide variety of locations, including city centres, railway stations, underground stations, universities, and large-format stores, underlining their flexibility.

Subscribers wanting to see how AiFi’s technology is being used in-store at Aldi UK can read our store visit to Aldi Shop&Go, London.

Hungary fixes price on seven everyday grocery products

Hungary has brought in legislation, which from 1 February, requires retailers to sell a range of basic, everyday food products at a price fixed on 15 October 2021. Retailers must maintain the same products and volumes from 15 October too, which means they cannot remove products on the list to escape the price caps. The seven products that have had their pricing fixed are wheat flour, sunflower oil, granulated sugar, 2.8% UHT milk, pork thighs, chicken breast, and chicken breasts. The price freeze will last for three months.

The country’s consumer protection authority has been tasked with monitoring retailers’ compliance of the law. If found to have infringed the price freeze, retailers can be fined. The step comes as the government looks to limit inflation’s impact on shoppers and follows a previous decision to put in place price caps on energy, fuel, and mortgages.

SPAR Express stores opened on Avia forecourts in Poland

Following the launch of a collaboration between SPAR Poland and Avia, the companies have rolled out SPAR Express stores at four locations in the country as part of a trial of the format. A further five will be opened in different cities as the companies look to adapt their approach by location. The SPAR Express format aims to meet shoppers’ on-the-go needs, stocking a small selection of top-up grocery needs.

Subscribers can read more about the impact of the energy transition to forecourt convenience stores in our presentation on The future of forecourts in Europe.

Auchan adds reverse vending machine at store in Poland

Ahead of the introduction of a centralised deposit scheme in the country in 2024, Auchan has added a reverse vending machine at a store in Poczesna. The deposit scheme will require reverse vending machines to be added in stores over 300 sq. m. This addition is part of Auchan’s plans to prepare for its launch and is its second such machine after it added one in a store near Warsaw. Shoppers receive PLN0.06 (€0.01) for every PET bottle they return, which can be used for money off purchases they then make. Customers will receive different amounts depending on the type of bottle they return.

Looking for more insight on Central and Eastern Europe?

Subscribers can access our Central and Eastern Europe hub page and read the Central and Eastern Europe retail outlook 2022 for our view on five key trends driving growth in the region.