The retail trade in Europe – diagnosis and future prespectives

Retail trade plays a crucial role in the economies of European nations, navigating numerous transformations driven by retailer concentration and integration, internationalization of commercial entities, advances in IT, and evolving customer behavior. The broad and varied needs of consumers encourage retail enterprises to explore diverse product delivery methods. These transformations have led to a redefined retail trade network structure across different European countries.

The aim of this study is to assess the functioning of retail trade in Europe and to explore its future prospects and development pathways. This report presents a comprehensive analysis of retail trade, including the operations of retailers and retail chains in Europe and selected countries within it.

The characteristics of European retail trade were analyzed using data from Eurostat, national statistical offices, research agencies, retail organizations, and other relevant institutions. Primary sources also contributed to this work. To address the study's broad objectives, the research focused on specific subjects and regions, involving residents of selected European countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Forecasting the potential paths and growth directions for European retail trade was informed by expert evaluations. This publication will be of great interest to those engaged with retail trade on a day-to-day basis, including retail company managers, researchers, and students, providing valuable insights into these important themes.