Top 10 Stores in Slovenia

Shopping in Slovenia is one of the most dynamic areas of society, constantly evolving. The country is home to both large retail chains and international brands, as well as local players. This blog is all about where to shop in Slovenia.

Top shops in Slovenia

What is the basis of user preferences? First and foremost, of course, it is territorial accessibility, product range, pricing policy and promotions, level of service and availability of additional services. Here's a small guide to the best shops in Slovenia.

Mercator

One of the largest and oldest retail chains in Slovenia, it has been on the market since 1949 and offers a wide range of goods, from food to household goods.

Its advantages include territorial accessibility through a large number of branches, its own exclusive brands, a 2-year guarantee on small household appliances and an extensive loyalty programme that adapts to the shopping and saving habits of its members.

Spar

Opened in Ljubljana in 1991, Spar has laid the foundation for more than 110 stores offering a wide range of food, beverages, personal care, clothing and household products.

The loyalty programme provides access to personalised discounts and benefits, as well as participation in special promotions. Spar plus cardholders can take advantage of many benefits offered by the company's partners.

Pensioners receive additional benefits, in particular special pensioners' days, which are usually held in the middle or at the end of the month and the exact date is announced in the media and in the Spar flyer.

Lidl

The discounter has been operating successfully in Slovenia since 2007 and has opened around a hundred stores of various formats throughout the country. The main product groups represented in Lidl stores include food, tools, gardening and gardening supplies, household appliances, clothing and footwear, seasonal leisure and recreation products.

The Lidl Plus programme offers discount vouchers and access to club prices, as well as regular in-app voucher draws with additional bonuses.

There are regular promotions for pensioners with additional discounts of 10% or more. These are announced in advance in the store network's brochures and on the Internet.

Hofer

This retailer started its activities in Slovenia in 2005 and found a lot of fans among customers. Today, the chain has almost a hundred stores offering low-cost food, household chemicals and themed ranges of clothing, home textiles, gardening equipment and hobby products. More than 80 per cent of the merchandise is private label.

There is no loyalty programme, but there is a weekly special offer with a whole range of products at reduced prices.

Tuš

Founded in 1992, Tuš is one of the largest supermarket chains and has grown to over 260 stores.

Here you can find food, clothing and electronics, sports and car equipment, children's and pet products, toys and gifts, flowers and gardening equipment. The chain also offers a range of additional services.

Pensioners have access to special offers in the Senior Tuš Club format. For example, every Wednesday seniors can get up to 11% off their first purchase of the day with a Tuš Club card.

Eurospin

This discounter has been operating in the form of 59 stores since 2004. The company offers a wide range of fresh and frozen products, as well as everyday goods. The majority of the assortment is made up of own label products.

The absence of a traditional loyalty programme is compensated for by a pricing policy that ensures low prices for all product groups.

OBI

OBI, which has been present on the domestic market since 1998, has about 10 stores and is one of the most popular retailers in the field of building materials and landscaping, as well as do-it-yourself products - around 55,000 items in total. As well as offering a wide range of products, the shops also provide a range of services to make shopping faster and easier.

Jager

This Slovenian company was founded in 1989 and now has a network of 50 retail outlets of various formats. The company's product range includes electronics and household appliances, toys and textiles. The range is complemented by a department for detergents, perfumes and cosmetics. On the grocery side, there is a good selection of packaged goods, canned goods and beverages.

The company tries to create special conditions for loyal customers. By joining the Jager Club, customers have the opportunity to return part of the cost of goods, buy with up to 50% discount and exchange accumulated points for additional benefits.

DM

A popular retailer of health and beauty products at affordable prices. It opened its first store in 1993 and now has more than a hundred stores across the country.

The loyalty programme is based on the principle of accumulating points: more points mean more benefits in the long term, e.g. 500 points mean a saving of €5, and 1000 points mean €10. The company offers additional benefits to expectant mothers and young families.

E. Leclerc

Despite the fact that only two E.Leclerc hypermarkets have opened in the country since 2000, E.Leclerc is a popular shopping destination for locals. You can find everything from groceries to cosmetics, cleaning products, household items, baby products, pet supplies and electronics.

The E.Leclerc card gives its holders access to discounts and special benefits in daily or weekly promotions, as well as vouchers for additional bonuses.

Every first Thursday of the month, E.Leclerc organises a Senior Citizens' Day. On this day, a €4 bonus will be credited to your pensioner card for purchases of €40 or more. If the purchase is over €80, the bonus is €10.

Local shops in Slovenia

As well as the big players in the market, there are many smaller, usually specialist, shops offering local products that you won't find in a supermarket. So what do local shops sell? Many things. For example, honey and bee products from nearby apiaries, local delicacies and wine, handicrafts, jewellery, ceramics and art. Many workshops and even farms have online shops, making shopping easy.

Conclusion

How do you choose a shop in Slovenia? Much depends on your priorities as a shopper. For stylish things and fashionable brands, it is better to go to a shopping centre and pick up a week's worth of provisions on the way. But for authentic products and tastes, it is better to look for small workshops and shops where individuality and tradition are valued.