Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

In a few years, distribution has become practically a private sector and the number of outlets has risen considerably. However, nowadays, this sector remains unstructured with a majority of small shops in rural areas where hypermarkets have not yet set up business. On the other hand, in large towns, the big foreign groups have moved in and out of 900 supermarkets, 432 are of foreign origin. We can mention:
- Real which belongs to the Metro AG group and has 27 stores,
- Hypernova (Ahold group) with 27 stores,
- Tesco with 37 stores,
- Auchan, Geant and Carrefour (respectively 19, 17 and 14 outlets).
Among the discount stores, we can recognize the names:
- Biedronka,
- Plus discount, etc.
Modern distribution (hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount) had a market share in the food trade of 35% in 2004. We can suppose that the trend will evolve in favour of discount stores and small shops in small towns in Poland.
It is estimated that, ten years from now, Poland will have an identical distribution system to that existing in western countries.

On the other hand, specialized distribution does not escape either from internationalization:
- in the DIY sector, we find Leroy Merlin, Castorama...
- for household appliances, Ikea, Conforama... are on the scene
- for sports items, we find Décathlon, Go sport, etc.

Market shares

Organizations in the retail sector

Polska Organizacja Handlu i Dystrybucji (Association of employers in big distribution companies)
Polska Rada Centrow Handlowych (Polish Council for Shopping Centers)

Types of outlet

Hypermarkets and supermarkets

All types of products
Carrefour, Auchan, Tesco, Real, Leclerc

Department Stores

All types of products
Galeria Centrum

Large shopping centers

All types of products
Targowek, Manhattan, Ptak, Arkadia

Discount stores

Mainly for foodstuffs.
Biedronka, Lidl

Specialized stores

Specialized in one family of products: gardening, DIY, sport, etc.
Gardening and DIY: Leroy Merlin, Castorama, Obi
Everything for the house: Ikea, Conforama, Domoteka
Sport : Décathlon, Go sport
Perfume and cosmetics:Sephora, Douglas, Rossmann
Books, discs: Empik

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Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

Poland's main ports are Gdansk and Szeczin-Swinoujscie. They have been considerably improved over the last few years with a view to European integration. In 2003, 51 052 000 tonnes of maritime freight transited via Poland.

Goods freight by road represented 74.4 billion tonnes-kms in 2001.

The Polish rail network is the third-best rail network in Europe for its infrastructures, the second for the volume of goods transported, and is the leading employer in Poland. International lines (Intercity) give excellent service but the regional lines remain poor. Modernization is essential as regards signals and rolling stock, for about 40% of goods traffic is carried out by rail (in 2003, 47 400 million tonnes-km of freight were carried by this means of transport).

Ports

Port of Gdansk
Port of Szczecin

Airports

Polish Airports

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructure
Ministry of Maritime Economy

Air transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructure
Civil aviation transport office

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Transport
General inspectorate for road transport
Institute for road transport

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of transport
Rail transport office