Research on local stores

Evolution of retail structures

Over the years, stores have increased in size while decreasing in number. While there were 20,000 grocery stores in Finland in the 1960s, there are fewer than 4,000 today.

Stores are nowadays often located in large malls alongside major roads or highways.

It may take much longer to do one’s grocery shopping than it used to in the past: in a hypermarket, the average shopping time, including the drive, is 81 minutes, while in a local store the whole trip only takes 34 minutes.*)

Local stores today

After years of decline, the tide has turned for local stores. In the past few years, more local stores have been established than have closed down.

Local stores are developing and becoming more versatile. Some of them are open 365 days a year, until late at night. Besides the basic staple of groceries, the stores often serve snacks and light lunches, such as a fresh cup of coffee and a sandwich.

The local stores are going through interesting times. Our challenge is to respond to the changing needs of consumers and to create flexible local service packages.

How do people feel about local stores?

According to a survey we commissioned in 2007, a clear majority of Finns consider the decreasing number and increasing size of stores to be a negative development.

People are of the opinion that ideally the closest store should be much closer than it is today.

In 2008, 90% of respondents said they consider it important or very important that there is a local store nearby.

*) Survey