Transformation and the current state of the socio-economic dimension of the retail food trade ecosystem in Poland: an image for the socio-economic policy

The article presents the stages of transformation of the retail food trade in Poland since 1989 and presents the current picture of the format and specialization of stores in this market. First, as an introduction to the topic, the definition and economic, social and spatial impact of the trade ecosystem were presented. The second part discusses the stages and indicates the milestones in the development of retail food trade in Poland in the years 1989-2020. The starting point that was the culmination of 40 years of the Polish People’s Republic economy of shortage was characterized, as well as five stages, i.e., 1) “jaws”, marketplaces and small shops; 2) hypermarkets, supermarkets and the desired variety; 3) discounters and smart shopping; 4) convenience, franchise and small standardization close to home; 5) e-shopping. The third part presents a contemporary picture of the formats and specializations of retail grocery stores in Poland.