CONCENTRATION OF THE RETAIL NETWORK IN RELATION TO THE CONSUMER SHOPPING BEHAVIOR IN REGIONS OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Issues of the retail development and its influence on the region is currently considered as particularly topical taking into account the economic attenuation in the world. The appreciation of the development of retail networks in regions of the Slovak Republic was conducted based on selected indicators of concentration. The concentration of retail units resulted in the increase of the average sales area, growth of supermarkets, hypermarkets and retail chains. From the geographical perspective, it is possible to understand the concentration as the ability of companies to center and further develop in areas with other companies present. Based on the analysis of the concentration of the retail network in regions of the Slovak Republic conducted, it can be stated that the Bratislava region demonstrates a significant dominance in the monitored period. This dominant position of the Bratislava region is in accordance with classic localization theories, mainly the theory of central cities by W. Christaller developed by J. Friedmann with the theory of the polarization evolution according to which the economic growth of the country can be strengthened by the hierarchical system of cities and their functional regions.