nickshanagher

The Financial Times has covered the success of the Eurocash wholesale operation in Poland, a country where independent shops still retain a remarkable 40 per cent share of the grocery market. "Shopping is not entertainment. Buying yoghurt and iPods in a single shop is not convenient for customers. You need quality shopping close to home," Luis Amaral, the Portuguese owner of the wholesaler, tells the newspaper. It is clear from this that Polish shoppers are not UK shoppers, who regularly put undergarments into the same trolley as their raw poultry. However, one reason why Polish local shops do well is said to be the poor state of roads in Poland, which makes travelling to a hypermarket difficult. This impact may transfer to the UK as the price of petrol soars and councils cut road maintenance budgets. Another is that 25 per cent of Poles shop daily and find it easier to go to a neighbourhood shop. The multiples have opened neighbourhood shops but the independents compet...