required report public distribution date 11 10 2004 gain number pl4043 poland retail food sector annual approved by wayne molstad agricultural counselor us embassy prepared business analysts & advisers ltd highlights s retailing continues to undergo radical transformation as consumer incomes grow in this modernizing country of 38 6 million people hypermarkets increased from 27 1996 293 2003 they are projected expand over 300 2005 and will account for about 50 percent sales within the next five years prospects hampered stiff polish eu competition stringent ingredient regulations costly terms get product onto large retailers shelves nevertheless there select opportunities outlined section v best includes psd changes no trade matrix warsaw pl1 pl usda foreign service global agriculture information network template version 2 09 page 33 unclassified table contents i market summary 3 general description 5 import conditions 17 ii road map entry 20 a supermarkets
