Retail in Bulgaria

March 2023
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Overview:

Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Retailing industry in Bulgaria with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.

Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.

Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:

  • Convenience Stores
  • Discounters
  • Hypermarkets
  • Supermarkets
  • Traditional Grocery Retailers
  • Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers
  • Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers
  • Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
  • Home and Garden Specialist Retailers
  • Department Stores
  • Variety Stores
  • Warehouse Clubs
  • Direct Selling
  • Homeshopping
  • Vending

If you're in the Retailing industry in Bulgaria, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.

The Retailing in Bulgaria report includes:

  • Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
  • Detailed segmentation of international and local products
  • Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
  • Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
  • Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country

This report answers:

  • What is the market size of Retailing in Bulgaria?
  • Which are the leading retailers in Retailing in Bulgaria?
  • How are products distributed in Retailing in Bulgaria?
  • How is the rise of e-commerce and the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
  • How significant are discounters and private label in Bulgaria?
  • How has the impact of COVID-19 and national lockdown impacted consumer demand?
  • Which formats have benefited the most from stockpiling and enforced home seclusion?
  • How will the wider economic impact of COVID-19 shape the retail landscape in the future?
  • Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Download Table of Contents

Retail in Bulgaria

Retail in 2022: The big picture
Modernisation and store network expansion
E-commerce continues to grow strongly, though penetration remains low
What next for retail?
Informal retail
Opening hours for physical retail
Summary 1 Standard Opening Hours by Channel Type 2022
Seasonality
Christmas
Back to School
Table 1 Sales in Retail by Retail Offline vs Retail E-Commerce: Value 2017-2022
Table 2 Sales in Retail by Retail Offline vs Retail E-Commerce: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 3 Sales in Retail Offline by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 4 Sales in Retail Offline by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 5 Retail Offline Outlets by Channel: Units 2017-2022
Table 6 Retail Offline Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2017-2022
Table 7 Sales in Retail E-Commerce by Product: Value 2017-2022
Table 8 Sales in Retail E-Commerce by Product: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 9 Grocery Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 10 Grocery Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 11 Sales in Grocery Retailers by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 12 Sales in Grocery Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 13 Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: Units 2017-2022
Table 14 Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2017-2022
Table 15 Non-Grocery Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 16 Non-Grocery Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 17 Sales in Non-Grocery Retailers by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 18 Sales in Non-Grocery Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 19 Non-Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: Units 2017-2022
Table 20 Non-Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2017-2022
Table 21 Retail GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 22 Retail GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 23 Retail Offline GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 24 Retail Offline GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 25 Retail Offline LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 26 Retail E-Commerce GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 27 Retail E-Commerce GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 28 Grocery Retailers GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 29 Grocery Retailers GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 30 Grocery Retailers LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 31 Non-Grocery Retailers GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 32 Non-Grocery Retailers GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 33 Non-Grocery Retailers LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 34 Forecast Sales in Retail by Retail Offline vs Retail E-Commerce: Value 2022-2027
Table 35 Forecast Sales in Retail by Retail Offline vs Retail E-Commerce: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 36 Forecast Sales in Retail Offline by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 37 Forecast Sales in Retail Offline by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 38 Forecast Retail Offline Outlets by Channel: Units 2022-2027
Table 39 Forecast Retail Offline Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2022-2027
Table 40 Forecast Sales in Retail E-Commerce by Product: Value 2022-2027
Table 41 Forecast Sales in Retail E-Commerce by Product: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 42 Grocery Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 43 Grocery Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 44 Forecast Sales in Grocery Retailers by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 45 Forecast Sales in Grocery Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 46 Forecast Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: Units 2022-2027
Table 47 Forecast Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2022-2027
Table 48 Non-Grocery Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 49 Non-Grocery Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 50 Forecast Sales in Non-Grocery Retailers by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 51 Forecast Sales in Non-Grocery Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 52 Forecast Non-Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: Units 2022-2027
Table 53 Forecast Non-Grocery Retailers Outlets by Channel: % Unit Growth 2022-2027

DISCLAIMER

Summary 2 Research Sources

Convenience Retailers in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Growth amidst rising prices
Minimal store network growth
Leading players focus on customer experience and product mix
Population decline to dampen growth
Convenience retailers to focus on becoming gourmet destinations and targeting health and wellness
Increase in digital operations
Table 54 Convenience Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 55 Convenience Retailers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 56 Sales in Convenience Retailers by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 57 Sales in Convenience Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 58 Convenience Retailers GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 59 Convenience Retailers GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 60 Convenience Retailers LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 61 Convenience Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 62 Convenience Retailers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 63 Forecast Sales in Convenience Retailers by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 64 Forecast Sales in Convenience Retailers by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Supermarkets in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Supermarkets channel sees continued growth
Further store network expansion
Billa retains lead, with Fantastico breathing down its neck
Limited potential for growth, but private label offers opportunities
Negative demographic trends to limit growth
Building online presence
Table 65 Supermarkets: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 66 Supermarkets: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 67 Supermarkets GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 68 Supermarkets GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 69 Supermarkets LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 70 Supermarkets Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 71 Supermarkets Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

Hypermarkets in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Strong performance in 2022
Kaufland remains dominant
Hypermarkets players invest in development of omnichannel presence
Growth set to slow down over forecast period
Significant growth in outlet numbers
Hypermarkets players set to continue turning to e-commerce and delivery services
Table 72 Hypermarkets: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 73 Hypermarkets: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 74 Hypermarkets GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 75 Hypermarkets GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 76 Hypermarkets LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 77 Hypermarkets Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 78 Hypermarkets Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

Discounters in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Price hikes boost consumer interest in discounters
Lidl works to reinforce dominance
Kam 2014 EOOD expands on back of growing interest in hard discounters
Continued, albeit slower, growth
Discounters set to outpace rival formats
Leading players to focus on competitive advantage
Table 79 Discounters: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 80 Discounters: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 81 Discounters GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 82 Discounters GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 83 Discounters LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 84 Discounters Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 85 Discounters Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

Small Local Grocers in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Independent retailers lack financial resilience of major chained players
Declining number of outlets
Small local grocers lag behind in terms of e-commerce
Competition from modern grocery retailing set to lead to continued decline in store network
Small local grocers to develop online activity
Channel unlikely to see a clear leader
Table 86 Small Local Grocers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 87 Small Local Grocers: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 88 Small Local Grocers GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 89 Small Local Grocers GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 90 Small Local Grocers LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 91 Small Local Grocers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 92 Small Local Grocers Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

General Merchandise Stores in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Shift in shopping patterns continues to impact general merchandise stores
Little development in department stores
Further decline for variety stores
Growth set to be constrained by increasing competition from rival channels
Little expectation for development of department stores
Variety stores to bounce back
Table 93 General Merchandise Stores: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 94 General Merchandise Stores: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 95 Sales in General Merchandise Stores by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 96 Sales in General Merchandise Stores by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 97 General Merchandise Stores GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 98 General Merchandise Stores GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 99 General Merchandise Stores LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 100 General Merchandise Stores Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 101 General Merchandise Stores Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 102 Forecast Sales in General Merchandise Stores by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 103 Forecast Sales in General Merchandise Stores by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Apparel and Footwear Specialists in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Falling number of outlets
Continued recovery
A fragmented channel
Unfavourable demographic trends
Some consolidation expected
Growing focus on online operations
Table 104 Apparel and Footwear Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 105 Apparel and Footwear Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 106 Apparel and Footwear Specialists GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 107 Apparel and Footwear Specialists GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 108 Apparel and Footwear Specialists LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 109 Apparel and Footwear Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 110 Apparel and Footwear Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

Appliances and Electronics Specialists in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Sales exceed pre-pandemic levels
Strong consumer focus on convenience
Leaders compete on price, experience and product range
Innovation, convenience and social media influence
Smart technologies to grow in importance
Challenging economic conditions to affect demand
Table 111 Appliances and Electronics Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 112 Appliances and Electronics Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 113 Appliances and Electronics Specialists GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 114 Appliances and Electronics Specialists GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 115 Appliances and Electronics Specialists LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 116 Appliances and Electronics Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 117 Appliances and Electronics Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027

Home Products Specialists in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Revival of pre-pandemic trends
Improvement across channels
Construction boom supports demand
Heightened consumer budget consciousness to impact demand
Social media set to play key role in shaping demand
Pet shops expected to perform well
Table 118 Home Products Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 119 Home Products Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 120 Sales in Home Products Specialists by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 121 Sales in Home Products Specialists by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 122 Home Products Specialists GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 123 Home Products Specialists GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 124 Home Products Specialists LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 125 Home Products Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 126 Home Products Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 127 Forecast Sales in Home Products Specialists by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 128 Forecast Sales in Home Products Specialists by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Health and Beauty Specialists in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

COVID-19 has lasting impact on health consciousness
Pharmacies channel sees strongest growth
Collaborations with major modern grocery retailers
Enduring health and wellness trend to support channel’s performance
Strong performance expected from beauty specialist retailers
Economic challenges set to act as an obstacle to development
Table 129 Health and Beauty Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2017-2022
Table 130 Health and Beauty Specialists: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2017-2022
Table 131 Sales in Health and Beauty Specialists by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 132 Sales in Health and Beauty Specialists by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 133 Health and Beauty Specialists GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 134 Health and Beauty Specialists GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 135 Health and Beauty Specialists LBN Brand Shares: Outlets 2019-2022
Table 136 Health and Beauty Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space 2022-2027
Table 137 Health and Beauty Specialists Forecasts: Value Sales, Outlets and Selling Space: % Growth 2022-2027
Table 138 Forecast Sales in Health and Beauty Specialists by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 139 Forecast Sales in Health and Beauty Specialists by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Vending in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Full recovery
Foods vending sees dynamic growth
Strong performance from hot drinks vending
Ongoing growth ahead
New concepts
Thefts pose a threat
Table 140 Vending by Product: Value 2017-2022
Table 141 Vending by Product: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 142 Vending GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 143 Vending GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 144 Vending Forecasts by Product: Value 2022-2027
Table 145 Vending Forecasts by Product: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Direct Selling in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Inflation drives value growth
Growing role for social media
Leading companies have been slow to adapt to evolving environment
Growth to be constrained by strong competition from other channels
Foods and tissue and hygiene categories to see growth
Looking to Millennials and Gen-Z
Table 146 Direct Selling by Product: Value 2017-2022
Table 147 Direct Selling by Product: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 148 Direct Selling GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 149 Direct Selling GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 150 Direct Selling Forecasts by Product: Value 2022-2027
Table 151 Direct Selling Forecasts by Product: % Value Growth 2022-2027

Retail E-Commerce in Bulgaria

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Low level of e-commerce in Bulgaria
Rapid expansion of foods e-commerce
E-commerce provides access to new brands and products
E-commerce to see further strong growth
Strong performance expected from foods e-commerce
E-commerce players set to address challenges posed by physical stores
Table 152 Retail E-Commerce by Channel: Value 2017-2022
Table 153 Retail E-Commerce by Channel: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 154 Retail E-Commerce by Product: Value 2017-2022
Table 155 Retail E-Commerce by Product: % Value Growth 2017-2022
Table 156 Retail E-Commerce GBO Company Shares: % Value 2018-2022
Table 157 Retail E-Commerce GBN Brand Shares: % Value 2019-2022
Table 158 Forecast Retail E-Commerce by Channel: Value 2022-2027
Table 159 Forecast Retail E-Commerce by Channel: % Value Growth 2022-2027
Table 160 Forecast Retail E-Commerce by Product: Value 2022-2027
Table 161 Forecast Retail E-Commerce by Product: % Value Growth 2022-2027
The following categories and subcategories are included:

Retailing

      • Fashion Vending
      • Health and Beauty Vending
      • Appliances and Electronics Vending
        • Alcoholic Drinks Vending
        • Hot Drinks Vending
        • Soft Drinks Vending
        • Tobacco Products Vending
      • Foods Vending
      • Home Products Vending
      • Other Products Vending
        • Apparel and Footwear Direct Selling
        • Personal Accessories Direct Selling
        • Eyewear Direct Selling
        • Beauty and Personal Care Direct Selling
        • Consumer Health Direct Selling
        • Tissue and Hygiene Direct Selling
        • Consumer Appliances Direct Selling
        • Consumer Electronics Direct Selling
        • Toys and Games Direct Selling
      • Drinks and Tobacco Direct Selling
      • Foods Direct Selling
        • Home Care Direct Selling
        • Home and Garden Direct Selling
        • Pet Care Direct Selling
      • Other Products Direct Selling
        • Apparel and Footwear E-Commerce
        • Personal Accessories E-Commerce
        • Eyewear E-Commerce
        • Beauty and Personal Care E-Commerce
        • Consumer Health E-Commerce
        • Tissue and Hygiene E-Commerce
        • Consumer Appliances E-Commerce
        • Consumer Electronics E-Commerce
        • Toys and Games E-Commerce
      • Drinks and Tobacco E-Commerce
      • Foods E-Commerce
        • Home Care E-Commerce
        • Home and Garden E-Commerce
        • Pet Care E-Commerce
      • Other Products E-Commerce
        • First-Party (1P) Marketplace E-Commerce
        • Third-Party (3P) Marketplace E-Commerce
      • Grocery E-Commerce
      • General Merchandiser E-Commerce
      • Apparel and Footwear Specialist E-Commerce
      • Appliances and Electronics Specialist E-Commerce
      • Home Products Specialist E-Commerce
      • Health and Beauty Specialist E-Commerce
      • Leisure and Personal Goods Specialist E-Commerce
      • Other E-Commerce Retailers

Retailing

Retail is the sale of new and used goods to consumers from a business for personal or household consumption from retail outlets, kiosks, market stalls, vending, direct selling and e-commerce. Retail is the aggregation of Retail Offline and Retail E-Commerce. Excludes specialist retailers of motor vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle parts. Also excludes fuel sales, foodservice sales, rental transactions, and wholesale sales (e.g. Cash and Carry). Sales value excluding or including VAT/Sales Tax. Retail also excludes the informal retail sector. Informal retailing is retail trade which is not declared to the tax authorities. Informal retailing encompasses (a) sales generated by unregistered and unlicensed retailers, i.e. retailers operating illegally, and (b) any proportion of sales generated by a registered and licensed retailer that is not declared to the tax authorities. Unregistered and unlicensed retailers operate predominantly (although not exclusively) as street hawkers or operate open market stalls, as these channels are harder for the authorities to monitor than permanent outlets. Activities in the illegal market, which is usually understood to refer to trade in illegal, counterfeit or stolen merchandise, are included within our definition of informal retailing. Activities in the “grey market”, which is usually understood to refer to trade in legal merchandise that is sold through unauthorized channels – for example cigarettes bought legally in another country, legally imported, but sold at lower prices than in authorized channels – will be included as informal retailing if no tax is paid on sale by the retailer. However if the retailer pays tax – for example on cigarettes bought legally in another country but sold at a lower price than standard – the sale is included within formal retail.

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