THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE, RETAIL AND LOGISTICS - THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Abstract
The lack of harmonization between retail capacity (in quantitative terms) and the level of economic development of the Republic of Croatia was the incentive for this research paper. It is necessary to analyse the economic structure on the one hand, and the development of retail trade in a qualitative sense on the other. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the importance of trade and retail logistics in the development of the Croatian economy. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of retail logistics in the development of contemporary retail formats. Therefore, based on the available literature, the paper firstly analyses the characteristics of retail logistics and its importance in the development of new retail formats. Furtherly, based on the available secondary sources (Eurostat, Deloitte, GfK GeoMarketing and others), the paper analyses the retail importance and development for the Republic of Croatia and other selected European countries. Data are analysed and graphically presented by usual statistical methods. New development processes arising from retail development 4.0 also provide new insights into the retail formats and distribution channels. They certainly should be applied when assessing retail development and the role of retail in future economic development in a particular country. Therefore, the future of retail logistics is also perceived from the way of solving contemporary economic problems. Obtained findings should enrich the understanding of new development opportunities in certain countries and regions, at the base of new retail formats, retail logistics and contemporary supply chain management. Furtherly, they should also enrich the existing knowledge about the possibilities of economic policy action on the development of retail forms. The main research limitations arise from the lack of recent data on retail capacity and new retail formats (especially those on online retail capacity).
