In Lithuania the process of centralization and strengthening of trade takes place.In the nearest future powerful invasion into the markets of French, of Spanish and of German companies is expected.

The statistics testifies, that during the last 6 years the number of the shops in Lithuania reduced to 31 % though the trade turnover has not increased. As a matter of fact, the retail market is already shared between several largest trade networks: Vilniaus prekyba, EKO, IKI, Spar, Rema 1000 LIT, Vikonda etc. Thus each year we are witnesses of processes of absorption: under the influence of competition it was necessary to correct the strategy of Pas Jouzapa rumours have passed that Vikonda is going to sell its Eko network.

And the giants amaze with the scope of their plans: it seems they want to construct a shop on each inhabitant of the Republic. So Vilniaus prekyba, which is the owner of 62 shops, by the end of the year intends to increase this number up to hundred. And six of them will have the area not less than 7 thousand sq.m. As it was already announced, after becoming the owner of a site on a place of the unfinished stadium on a crossroads of the streets Ozo and Ukmerges in Vilnius, together with the Norwegians it is going to build the huge trade and entertainments centre. The next year VP intends to open one shop even in Riga.

EKO has even more impudent plans: after signing the contract on cooperation with Swedish ICA it plans to open up to 150 shops in Lithuania. If the bargain with Vikonda is held, it will become the owner of 25 shops scattered on all country, basically in provinces. Its turnover is 200-210 millions Lt per one year.

However, this is not all. To all attributes, in the nearest future powerful invasion into the markets of French, of Spanish and of German companies is expected. German company Dr. Werner Pfeifer Objekt- Entwicklung, which has obtained a 26 ga site of the ground near a highway Vilnius - Klaipeda and which within two years is planning to construct the largest in Baltic shopping centre, showed the example.

Certainly, the firm, which is engaged in buying up the real estate, will not build anything itself. According to its representatives, it will try to use local builders. The company plans to construct three more giants in Baltic. By the way, Vilniaus prekyba, the largest trading company in the country already holds negotiations with Germans about reception of rights of the operator on management of the future centre.