Small neighborhood shops in Bulgaria are facing growing pressure as rising prices and shifting consumer habits push more people toward large retail chains, raising concerns that basic daily purchases could eventually require long trips, BNR reportes.

Retailers in Balchik report a steady decline in customer numbers alongside increasing costs, which is directly affecting turnover. Essential food prices remain high: cooking oil is sold between 1.96 and 2.40 euros per liter, six eggs cost around 1.40 euros, while a pack of ten reaches about 2.30 euros. Bread prices vary from roughly 1 euro for white bread to 1.20 euros for standard loaves, with wholegrain options priced higher.

Vegetables have also seen noticeable price levels, with a bunch of onions, garlic, or radishes costing around 1 euro, and lettuce reaching approximately 1.70 euros.

Shop owners in smaller communities say foot traffic is increasingly limited, with many customers choosing larger supermarkets due to lower prices, wider selection, and easier parking. One trader near a hospital in Belia Grad noted that while elderly residents remain loyal, long-term survival is uncertain. ?I don?t know if I will last until the end of the year,? he said, pointing to rising electricity bills, wages, and overall operating costs.

Consumers themselves are divided, with some prioritizing lower prices and convenience in chains, while others continue to support local shops for personal service, perceived product quality, and proximity.

According to Dimitar Parmaksazov, chairman of the Regional Consumer Cooperative ?Cherno more? in Balchik, small stores are increasingly being used only for urgent or minor purchases such as coffee, snacks, bottled water, and cigarettes. He estimates that the average customer bill in such shops is just 3 to 5 euros.

Parmaksazov warned that many small outlets are no longer financially sustainable and survive largely through rental income or property sales rather than retail activity. The cooperative has already begun gradually closing locations as employees retire.

He also pointed to rising product costs and higher minimum wages as additional pressure factors, arguing that small retailers cannot compete with large chains. In his view, supermarkets should be located outside residential areas, while neighborhood stores traditionally serve convenience-based demand.

?In the entire modern world, small stores in central areas sell more expensively because they provide convenience and service close to home and work,? he said.

Parmaksazov cautioned that if current trends continue, neighborhood shops may disappear within a few years, forcing residents in central Balchik and similar areas to travel to larger retail centers even for basic daily necessities such as bread.

Source:Albena Ivanova - correspondent for Radio Varna in Balchik