Main Department of Trade and Services: Belarusian products, fuel, and construction materials predominated in the Vitebsk region market in 2021
"The consumer demand for meat and meat products, cheeses, butter, eggs, and alcoholic beverages was mainly met by domestic products. For non-food goods, sales of Belarusian motor fuel, construction materials, underwear, and hosiery increased. The sales volume of non-food goods, whose share in the structure of retail trade turnover of trade organizations is 43.3%, grew in comparable prices compared to 2020 by 3.6%," the department said.
Last year also saw an increase in the sales volume of flour confectionery, fish and fish products, canned meat, mineral water, baby food, and low-alcohol beverages. In the non-food goods group, sales of domestic washing machines and clothes dryers, household cleaning products, footwear, outerwear, and underwear increased.
In total, for 2021, goods worth Br5.9 billion were sold to the region's population. Compared to the previous year, the turnover increased by 1.5%. Trade organizations accounted for more than 90% of retail turnover (Br5.4 billion).
"To create a comfortable consumer environment in the region, systematic work is being carried out to develop trade infrastructure. In 2021, the retail space of stores increased by 28.2 thousand sq.m. New large retail facilities appeared in Vitebsk and Orsha. Today, more than 13 thousand retail facilities of various formats, 80 shopping centers, and 55 markets operate in the region," the department's specialists emphasized.
In the public catering sector in 2021, there was a growth in turnover of almost 11%. To some extent, this was due to low consumer activity in 2020, when, under difficult epidemiological conditions, organized events at catering establishments were limited. Then there was an outflow of visitors, a reduction in the operating hours of cafes and restaurants. In 2021, the situation improved, and public catering facilities were able to sell products worth over Br253 million to the region's population.
"In the public catering sector last year, due to new construction, reconstruction, and resumption of operation, 87 facilities with 1755 seats were commissioned, including 84 public facilities with 1677 seats. The region's public catering infrastructure currently includes 1.7 thousand public catering facilities with 89.4 thousand seats," the department added.