Hypermarkets boom in ex-communist bloc

Published: 20 January 2004 y., Tuesday
The former communist states set to join the European Union in four months are embracing the West in wholehearted fashion — flexing their new market economy muscles in their own shopping centers and hypermarkets. The spatious well-lit stores chock full of food and merchandise are cropping up behind the old Iron Curtain, gleaming like jewels against the unadorned, grey, utilitarian architecture built for the old proletariat. Mass marketing - both the availabiity of goods and the buying power that makes one a full-fledged consumer - are still novel concepts in the former Soviet satellite states. "The people were frustrated by the lack of choice and the shortages under communism," said Tomas Krasny, director general of Incoma, a Czech marketing firm. "They now crave abundance." Thanks to very liberal laws, the hypermarkets generally remain open every day, some even 24 hours a day, even in Roman Catholic Poland where church tradition still upholds Sunday as the day of rest.
Šaltinis: bday.co.za
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Sustainable energy for Europe

In European sustainable energy week 2010, new EU energy commissioner presents strategy to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuel. more »

EBRD’s new accountability mechanism goes into effect

The EBRD is launching a Project Complaint Mechanism, which is expected to enhance the accountability and transparency of the Bank’s operations. more »

New local currency financing for micro and small businesses in Armenia

The EBRD is boosting the availability of local currency financing in Armenia with a synthetic loan in Armenian Drams (AMD) worth $4 million to FINCA UCO CJSC for on-lending to local micro and small enterprises (MSEs). more »

Sirpa Pietikäinen on CITES: "Biodiversity at stake"

This year is the UN year of biodiversity and it brings endangered species into the spotlight. more »

Haiti: US$65 Million Grant to Restore Key State Functions and Infrastructure

The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$65 million project to support the recovery of Haiti’s critical infrastructure as well as the reestablishment of basic State functions following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010. more »

Haiti Sets Out on Path to Recovery with Broad International Support

Haiti’s arduous reconstruction and recovery process jolted forward today following fresh commitments to help the Caribbean nation rebuild in the wake of its devastating January 12 earthquake. more »

New IMF-Supported Program Will Strengthen Uganda’s Policy Design and Implementation Capacities in the Transition to Oil

A mission from the African Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Uganda during March 4-17, 2010, to conduct the seventh and final review under Uganda’s Policy Support Instrument (PSI) and reach understandings on a policy framework for a new three-year PSI to cover the period 2010 to 2013. more »

Common Agriculture Policy after 2013: free market will not save European agriculture

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), as the first EU institution, rose to the challenge of providing a comprehensive vision for the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), in advance of the European Commission's papers on the matter, due to be issued later this year and in 2011. more »

Europe and Central Asia Facing Energy Crunch

The outlook for primary energy supplies, heat, and electricity is questionable for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, despite Russia and Central Asia’s current role as a major energy supplier to both Eastern and Western Europe. more »

IMF Executive Board Approves US$790 Million Stand-by Arrangement for El Salvador

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 36-month, SDR 513.9 million (about US$790 million) Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for El Salvador to help the country mitigate the adverse effects of the global crisis. more »