Saturday, 15 March 2025
The total value of sales in small-format stores, those up to 300 square meters, fell by 2% year-on-year in September 2024, while the number of transactions dropped by approximately 9%, according to data from the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the CMR Panel.
“Despite the extended summer-like weather in early September, small-format stores saw 3% fewer customers compared to August, with total turnover down by nearly 6%,” the report noted. While average temperatures in September were comparable to last year, weather-sensitive product categories faced significant declines.
Sales of beverages saw the most notable drops. In September, small-format store customers bought 12% fewer liters of beer than the previous year. Sales of sodas and energy drinks also declined by 8%, and bottled water sales fell by a similar margin. Ice cream, a popular impulse buy during warm weather, experienced a steep drop, with 20% fewer receipts showing purchases of ice cream than in September 2023. Other impulse items, like chocolate bars and wafers, also recorded significant decreases. Alcohol categories, including pure vodka, saw a 13% decline in sales, while cigarette sales dropped by 5%.
On the other hand, categories related to autumn health concerns saw increases. Sales of cold and flu medications surged by 27% compared to September 2023. Canned goods, often purchased as relief aid for flood-affected areas in southern Poland, also saw increased sales, particularly during the third week of September when the flood situation was at its worst.
Among the hardest-hit categories were “strongly expensive” butter, with sales receipts showing a 22% drop compared to a year ago, and sugar, which saw a 20% decline in volume. Customers are now paying an average of PLN 3.70 per kilogram of sugar, 30% less than in September 2023, but over PLN 1 more than prices at major discount chains. This price disparity has led some customers to shift their purchases of basic goods to larger stores.
Despite the decrease in foot traffic, the average spend per customer in small-format stores increased to PLN 24.24, an 8% rise from September 2023. Additionally, the average number of items per transaction rose by 2%, with an average of 3.8 items per cart.
Small-format stores include a range of outlets, from grocery stores under 40 m² to medium-sized stores of up to 300 m², as well as specialized alcohol shops.
Source: Polish Chamber of Commerce, CMR Panel and ISBnews
