Zdenko Segetlija
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek,
Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Croatia
E-mail: seget@efos.hr

Jelena Franjković
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek,
Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Croatia
E-mail: jelenaf@efos.hr

Abstract

The motive for this work is a mismatch between the significance of trade
(especially retail trade) according to its share in the number of employees, in the
turnover, etc. in the overall economy, and its importance as a driver of supply chains
and economic development in the Republic of Croatia. In the last twenty years there
is an evident development of retail companies in quantitative terms (increase of sales
area), but the insufficient development in qualitative terms of using modern technical
and technological achievements and connectivity in the regional value adding chains.
Based on available literature, the paper provides an indication of the importance and
factors of development of business logistics of retail companies. Developing of retail
supply chains have gained attention to the importance of retail in the management of
economic processes. This paper analyzes the available statistical data (for the period
of the last twenty years) on the movement of the importance of retailing in the
Republic of Croatia (on the basis of its share in the overall economy) and information
relating to the development factors of retail business logistics (choice of location,
format of retail business units, supplier structure, market and competition, technical
and technological environment, political and legal factors, etc.). Based on the
importance of logistics for retail companies in national economy, the aim of this paper
is to evaluate the importance of retail and the role of retail companies in the
development of the national economy of the Republic of Croatia. The aim of this study
are knowledge of new logistical viewpoints to the importance of retailing in the
(un)successful development of the national economy of the Republic of Croatian, and
respectively regional value adding chains. The work has the purpose to point out the
importance of business logistics for the success of the retailer, but also the significance
of the impact of internal and external factors on the development of its logistics
business. Limitations of this study are related to recent statistics data. In addition,
there are further more specific research needs of individual supply chains.

Key words: retail company, business logistics, supply chain, format of retail business
unit, Republic of Croatia

Last Update: October 26, 2017