Społem
| Społem | |
|---|---|
| legal form | cooperative |
| founding | 1868 |
| Seat | Warsaw |
| management | Ryszard Jaśkowski |
| Branch | Grocery trade |
| Website | www.spolem.org.pl |
Społem is a Polish consumer cooperative . Founded in 1868 during the partitions of Poland , it was intended to ensure the common good among the Polish population regardless of the policies of the occupying powers. Until the 1980s, Społem operated the largest network of pure grocery stores in Poland.
history
Between 1869 and 1918, Społem mainly operated milk bars , i.e. self-service restaurants with affordable home-style cooking. After the regaining of Polish independence , the company opened its own grocery stores , first in the greater Poznan area. During the real socialism in Poland , Społem also operated department stores with various consumer goods, especially in the big cities, which were mainly sold under the brand name Sezam . Until the political turning point in 1989, Społem had the sole commercial right to items such as cola , oranges and vinegar . After the system change in Poland , Społem lost its importance and had to close numerous grocery stores due to growing competition from supermarkets or combiners of the Żabka chain . Today Społem still runs 363 grocery stores and has around 120,000 members, especially in rural areas. Plots of land that were formerly developed by the company's own operations are leased, for example the site of the former Sezam department store in the center of Warsaw , on which a high-rise building was built in 2016.
Web links
- Official website (Polish)