Shopping close to home

The first hypermarket to open in Poland was an Auchan store in Piaseczno outside Warsaw in 1996. From the very moment that large-format retail appeared small local shops, greengrocers and street markets started to disappear. Now, however, this trend has gone into reverse For the last few years, small shops where the basic necessities can be bought have been back in favour. Despite offering lower the prices, large retail chains have failed to eliminate local retail. According to research by the Polish Trade and Distribution Organisation, nearly 60 pct of the market is accounted for by shops backed by Polish capital, whereas only 40 pct is held by foreign chains. The potential of this market is being increasingly appreciated by retail developers who are looking for new niches. "Investment in convenience facilities, in particular those with areas of less than 5,000 sqm, is a great idea not just for both new players on the market and experienced developers. A neighbourhood centre would