From February 1, 2022, changes to the Sunday trading ban will come into force. Shops that benefit from exemptions, inter alia, for post offices, will have to keep records of monthly sales revenues. The representatives of the Kaufland, Netto and Carrefour chains have announced that their stores will be closed on non-trading Sundays after the amendment enters into force.
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The act on restricting trade on Sundays and public holidays provides for a catalog of 32 exemptions, one of which concerns postal points of contact. In 2021, we had a peculiar rash of contracts concluded between courier companies and retail chains. As a result, courier services were introduced in other stores, and chains began to open their stores on non-trading Sundays.
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Currently, on non-trading Sundays, there are branches (all or some, depending on the chain) belonging to the chain, among others Biedronka, Lidl, Kaufland, Netto, Carrefour Polska and Auchan. Some DIY stores open on non-trading Sundays.
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However, from February 1, 2022, the amendment to the regulations will come into forcewhich is intended to tighten the ban on Sunday trading. After the changes, it will be possible to open stores on non-trading Sundays, which also provide postal services, if the revenues from this activity exceed 40 percent of the revenues of a given branch. Pursuant to the ordinance of the Ministry of Finance, sales records are to be kept separately for each commercial outlet, even if the entrepreneur has several such outlets.
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We asked individual retail chains what the amendment to the Sunday trading ban would change in their activities.
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Ban on trading on Sundays – shops as post offices
Closing its stores on non-trading Sundays – after the amendment comes into force – is announced Kaufland. “Taking into account the amount of revenues generated from postal services, from February 1, 2022 our stores will be closed on non-trading Sundays. From the beginning of its operation, Kaufland fully respects and adapts to the current legal regulations” – said Maja Szewczyk in the reply sent to us. director of the Corporate Communication Department of Kaufland Polska.
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At the same time, it made a reservation that the network would monitor the actions of competitors. “At the same time, we believe that legal regulations should be transparent and equal for all market participants, so if the competition continues to use solutions that allow for trading 7 days a week, our network may again be forced to take similar steps” – said Szewczyk. She assured that after February 1 this year. Postal services will continue to be offered at Kaufland stores.
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Net Poland – as it results from the reply sent to us – it also plans to close its stores on non-trading Sundays. “From February 1 this year, our stores will be open on all of this year’s trading Sundays, that is: January 30, April 10 and 24, June 26, August 28, 11 and 18 December. In addition to trading Sundays, our stores are available to customers for six days per week (from Monday to Saturday inclusive), importantly, from January already in 600 locations all over Poland “- reported Patrycja Kamińska from Netto Polska.
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Press office Carrefour Polska announced that “the operation of all the chain’s own stores will be adjusted to the requirements imposed by the legislator”. “At the moment, the Carrefour Polska chain does not plan to open its own stores on Sundays after the amendment to the act enters into force” – added.
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The situation will be different in the case of franchise stores Carrefour Express. “In the case of franchise stores, the amount of work will remain dependent on the franchisee’s decision,” said chain representatives.
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Network press office Ladybird informed that the network “strictly complies with the applicable provisions of law, but as a rule we do not comment on the legislation.” Representatives speak in a similar vein Lidl Poland. “Lidl Polska has been operating on the Polish market for many years, always acting in accordance with applicable regulations – by providing a new service, we will also adapt to new legal regulations in force from February 1, 2022.” – we read in the reply sent to us.
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We asked the representatives of the Biedronka and Lidl Polska networks to clarify whether this means that their stores, which are currently open on non-trading Sundays, will be closed on non-trading Sundays after February 1. Until the article was published, however, we did not receive a reply.
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Press office Żabka Poland reported that from February 1, small shops will continue to operate on days subject to trade restrictions, including Sundays, “on the basis of an exemption for entrepreneurs trading in person and for their own account, which is also used by Żabka’s franchisees.” “Under the applicable regulations, it is possible to support the franchisee by other persons, including selected family members (including the franchisee’s spouse and children). on trade in the press, public transport tickets, tobacco products, coupons for games of chance and mutual wagering, they will use them individually “- added the representatives of Żabka.
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PAP
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photo-source">Main photo source: Shutterstock
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