Discount retail expansion, supply chain development and digital innovation

BİM tests third-party grocery delivery through Yemeksepeti 

BİM, one of Turkey’s leading discount retailers, has partnered with Yemeksepeti to make selected products available through the platform’s “Markets” section. The service has initially launched in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, giving shoppers another way to access BİM’s discount offer online. The partnership is expected to expand to more cities over the next year, depending on demand and operational performance. 

Insight Analyst, Ziwei Huang ‘s view: 

This is a notable move for Turkish discount retail. Rather than building a large-scale quick-commerce network of its own, BİM is using an established third-party platform to test online grocery demand in a lighter-asset way. The partnership shows that even hard discounters are exploring omnichannel models, while still protecting their core focus on price, simplicity and operational efficiency. 

Normal enters Romania with first store openings 

Danish variety discount retailer Normal is entering the Romanian market, with its first two stores set to open in Bucharest and Timișoara. The retailer will launch its first Romanian outlet at Mega Mall Bucharest on 30 September, followed by a second store at Shopping City Timișoara on 2 October. Normal operates more than 1,000 stores across Europe and specialises in branded cosmetics, personal care, and household products sold at fixed low prices. The move follows the recent expansion of Dutch discount retailer Action in Romania, highlighting continued retailer interest in the market.  

Insight Analyst, Bently Briggs's view:

Normal's entry adds further momentum to Romania's discount retail landscape and underlines the market's growing attractiveness for international value retailers. While grocery discounters have traditionally dominated discussions around value-focused retail, Normal brings a different proposition centred on branded health, beauty and household products offered at consistently low prices. Its arrival increases competition in the non-food discount segment and reflects a broader trend across Europe, where consumers remain highly value-conscious but continue to seek branded products.

Dachser strengthens chilled food logistics in Hungary 

Dachser Food Logistics has opened a new temperature-controlled facility in Kecskemét, Hungary, expanding its capacity for chilled food distribution. The site is designed to handle around 40–50 tonnes of goods per day, with products kept within a 2–7°C temperature range. The investment also strengthens Dachser’s ability to support cross-border food logistics across the region. 

Insight Analyst, Ziwei Huang ‘s view: 

This development highlights the growing importance of cold-chain infrastructure in CEE grocery retail. Stronger chilled logistics can support categories such as fresh food, dairy, meat and chilled ready meals, where quality and product integrity depend heavily on reliable temperature control. It can also help smaller food producers reach wider retail networks, making fresh and convenience-led ranges easier to scale across markets. 

Lidl Czechia brings Cvak mobile payments to stores 

Continuing in its mission to make the checkout as frictionless as possible, Lidl has partnered with the Czech payment solution company Cvak. Integration of the Cvak app will allow shoppers to make direct account-to-account payments from their mobile phone. This removes the need for payment by card or cash at the checkout, providing an option for a smoother shopper experience. The retailer has announced that the technology will be gradually introduced to all stores across Czechia. 

Analyst, Theo O’Flynn‘s view:  

Czech shoppers are known to be particularly receptive to new technologies. Autonomous stores have found particular success in the market, and mobile payment is the most recent retail technology to generate excitement amongst Czech shoppers. Cvak has already seen success in its collaboration with Ahold Delhaize's Albert banner in Czechia. Now partnering with market leader Lidl, its mobile payments are likely to gain even more traction. In the former case, Cvak’s technology was tied directly into Albert’s loyalty app. This suggests a direct tie-in with the Lidl Plus app may be on the horizon in Czechia.