The Importance of Discounters in the Purchasing Decisions of Polish Consumers

The article data from the review of secondary data and primary research shows that the preferences and buying trends among Poles have changed over twenty five years. Discounters are currently the fastest growing trading format, in which more than 70% of consumers buy. The market leader in the retail chain sector is Biedronka, which increased the number of shops by 1745 in the period of 2006-2015. Discounters have become popular due to: changing habits of shoppers, the ability to offer products at very low prices, proximity to the place of residence of consumers and improving the quality of products. The aim of this article is to draw attention to the specifics of the operation of discount stores in the Polish realities with a particular focus on Biedronka. Primary data on the behavior of consumers buying food there was obtained from a survey conducted in 2014 on a sample of 540 consumers.