Report Updated
Report Updated
on
Problems & Prospects of Super Shop Industry in Bangladesh
Submitted to:
Md. Kaium Hossain
Assistant professor
School of Business and Economics
United International University
Submitted by:
Name ID
Most.Moriom Akter 111 231 0010
Shinthia Islam Arin 121 223 0012
Sinthiya Rahman Orchi 111 231 0084
Jannatul Mobashshira Noshin 111 231 0069
Afrin Jahan 111 231 0173
Assistant Professor
We are delighted to offer our assignment report, which concealed seven days study on
the topic Super Shop Problem and Prospects in Bangladesh. Within the time restriction,
we tried our superlative to make this report and to provide a meaningful viewpoint. The
study has allowed us to use a wide array of academic knowledge. we have done our all
to assemble this report with all of the requisite facts, numbers, and references. We have
used the instructions you've given us in creating this report and we have also utilized
relevant ideas we have learned during the business communication course.
we would like to express our gratitude for giving us your time, knowledge, and support. It
would not have been possible without your support. We are grateful for the help you've
given us.
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Acknowledgement
First, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the members of our group who
contributed their time, effort, and expertise to the completion of this report on BD super
shops. Each member brought unique perspectives and valuable insights to the table,
enriching the depth and quality of our analysis.
We would also like to extend our appreciation to our supervisor Md. Kaium Hossain,
Assistant Professor School of Business and Economics at United International University
for his guidance and support throughout the research and writing process. His feedback
and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping the content and structure of this
report. With his oversight and direction, I've effectively seized the chance to get
knowledge about the Super shop industry and finished our report.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in the creation of this report. Your collaboration
and support have been essential to its success.
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Executive Summary
This report explores the potential for expanding super shops in Bangladesh, analyzing
market dynamics, consumer behavior, and regulatory considerations. With rising
urbanization and changing lifestyles, there is a growing demand for convenient shopping
experiences. Super shops offer a wide range of products under one roof, catering to
diverse consumer needs. Bangladesh’s retail sector is witnessing significant growth,
driven by increasing disposable incomes and urbanization. Consumers in Bangladesh
are increasingly seeking convenience, quality, and variety in their shopping experiences.
The regulatory environment in Bangladesh presents both opportunities and challenges
for super shop expansion. Government policies regarding foreign investment, licensing,
and taxation need to be considered. Expanding super shops in Bangladesh presents
lucrative opportunities amid changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. By
strategically positioning themselves, diversifying product offerings, and embracing
technology, super shop chains can capitalize on this growth potential and become key
players in the country's retail landscape.
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Table of content
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4.8 Future Opportunities ..................................................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER V: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUISION ........................................................... 19
5.1 Recommendation........................................................................................................................... 20
5.2 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 22
References ............................................................................................................................................... 23
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CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
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1.1 Background of the Report
The super shop industry in Bangladesh has experienced significant growth and
transformation over the years and it becoming an integral part of the retail landscape in
Bangladesh. Super shops also known as superstores. It offers a wide range of products
under one roof also It is a large retail stores which included groceries, domestic items to
all type of product which is necessary for our life. These stores provide us suitability,
diversity, and inexpensive pricing to a large customer base in our country which making
the popular shopping destinations for many people in Bangladesh.
In late 20th century super shops can be mark out back when development and changing
customer lifestyles. Over the time period super shops growth rapidly across the country
and mainly in urban areas or City of Bangladesh like Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet etc. It
provides to the various needs of consumers with one -stop shopping experience for daily
or regular requirements and indulgence items.
1. Shwapno
2. Meena Bazar
3. Agora
4. Unimart
These companies have invested heavily in infrastructure where they used high
technology with powerful supply chain management team where everyone is enhancing
the shopping experience and meet customer demands effectively and efficiently. Super
shops in Bangladesh often differentiate themselves through factors such as product
quality, pricing strategy, customer service, and store ambiance. As we know super shops
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are popular shops but they also faced some challenges for doing their day-to-day
operations, such as infrastructure limitations, supply chain inefficiencies, and regulatory
hurdles. At the end we can say that super shop industry in Bangladesh playing a vital
role for retail sector where they contributing to economic development with employment
generation also, they focusing consumer welfare.
The report title “Problems & Prospects of Super Shop Industry in Bangladesh” has
prepared on the basis of secondary data with supervision and guidance of Md. Kaium
Hossain, Assistant Professor School of Business and Economics at United International
University.
The report title “Super shop problems and prospects in Bangladesh” has prepared with
two categories of objectives one is broad objective another one is specific objective.
Broad Objective:
The main purpose of this report is to analyze the Super Shop problems and prospects of
Bangladesh.
Specific Objective:
To gain this broad objective we divide it with some specific objective Where our main
goals for analyzing the super shop of Bangladesh are-
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To find out the problem or difficulties of super shop in Bangladesh.
To Know the prospects of super shop in Bangladesh.
To make some recommendation on super shop of Bangladesh.
The scope of the report is to provide an introduction to the super shop industry in
Bangladesh, including its growth trajectory, market size, key players, and contribution to
the retail sector also Identification of problems & analyzing the challenges faced by super
shops in Bangladesh, such as supply chain issues, inventory management, pricing
strategies, competition from traditional markets, regulatory hurdles, and consumer
preferences also we work for identification of customer experience and Satisfaction in
Bangladesh.
In our report, we faced some challenges and barriers while doing the report. The main
challenges or major challenges are: -
Time: - Time is a big challenge for doing anything and we faced this challenge for
doing our report. If we have more time maybe, we can collect more data for our
report and could analyze many factors.
Data Collection: - We faced problem to collect data as well. All the secondary data
was not accurate and not that much informative. We collect the data and filter it
according to our requirement which consumed time.
Team working: - As we work as a team, we discussed each topic with each other
but as a single member we couldn’t participate all the chapters of report
individually.
Lack of knowledge: - As we are new researcher, we don’t have enough
experience to done this kind of report so understanding the topic and format was
a challenge for us.
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CHAPTER II: INDUSTRY REVIEW
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2.1 Industry Analysis
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2.1.2 Size, Trend & Maturity of the Industry
According to TBS, Bangladesh’s retail market was worth $16 billion in 2020. The
superstore industry accounted for only 1.6% of this total, or around $256 million. However,
this figure is substantially higher in neighboring nations. Super shop account for 43% of
the overall retail market in Sri Lanka. In India, the proportion is 8-9%, while Myanmar and
the Philippines have more than 50% share of the retail sector in 2020.
Although the super shop landscape is very small in Bangladesh, the sector will continue
to grow in our country. According to a report of the Daily star published in January 2020,
the super shop industry will be growing at a rate of 24% each year on average and
according to TBS news, within the next seven years, super shop will account for at least
10% of retail sales in Bangladesh.
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2.1.3 Barriers to Entry
Supermarkets’ business models and income generation are profoundly reliant on product
sales across the world. In that case, Supermarkets often acquire products from both
primary and secondary sources. Supermarkets can purchase items at low prices if they
obtain them directly from the source, without the involvement of any middleman. On the
other hand, the cost of purchasing the same amount of product rises due to
intermediaries. However, super shops have more purchasing power than supermarkets
and they are capable of buying things in bulk for all of their stores. As a result, despite the
presence of several intermediaries, superstores may obtain items at a cheaper wholesale
price than small retail shops or grocery stores. As a result, supermarkets may generate
more revenue at larger margins than small retail or food stores.
Supermarkets sell items with both high and low profit margins. According to one market
analysis, certain local items can create less than 5% profit, and some imported products
can generate up to 50% profit. Super shops can typically make a profit of 15%-16% of
total sales. To generate income, superstores frequently use a ‘bundle pricing’ approach.
Super shops can use this method to clear out stock of slow-moving items by offering a
‘bundle’ consisting of both slow and fast moving products at a discount price. In addition,
for some items, supermarkets offer “buy one, get one free.” In this approach, Super shops
are able to boost sales volume while also generating huge profit margins.
Furthermore, FMCG giants such as ACI and Pran-RFL operate super shop networks such
as ‘Shwapno‘ and ‘Daily Shopping’. As a consequence, both companies offer FMCG
products to consumers through their own retail chains. It has also enabled them to
maintain strong profit margins for chain stores and FMCG corporations.
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2.1.4 Threat of Substitutes
Investment Cost:
According to a Financial Express report published in 2018, Building a single super shop
in BD costs four times higher than neighboring nations. Opening a 4000 square feet super
shop in BD can cost BDT 4.5 crore. On the other hand, in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, it
costs only BDT 1.1 crore. When it comes to opening a superstore, location, size, and
interior design strategies play a vital role. Since the majority of the super shop’s customers
are from the middle and affluent classes, and most of them live in the city, superstores
are established in densely populated areas of the major cities. Furthermore, a super shop
requires significantly more space than a regular retail store. As a result, the expenses of
establishing and managing a superstore rise substantially.
Super Shops mainly practice 2 types of value chains: direct sourcing and indirect
sourcing. When a super shop uses indirect sourcing, there are 8 intermediaries along with
producers and end customers, which allows them to set a profit margin of 10-12%. On
the other hand, when they use direct sourcing, it contains 5 intermediaries and sets 12-
18% profit margin. So, direct sourcing is more profitable than indirect sourcing. However,
supermarkets are not always able to perform direct sourcing due to issues such as
transportation and a limited number of medium and large farmers.
Logistic Issue:
In Bangladesh, supply chain logistics is one of the most serious issues in every industry.
Supermarkets must cope with several challenges of selling fresh vegetables and fish due
to Bangladesh’s limitations in transportation and cold storage management. However,
many customers believe that the supermarket’s veggies, fish, and meat are not fresh. In
addition to the emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, a specific temperature is constantly
maintained in the super shops. That’s why the vegetables, fish and meat sold in the super
shops are fresher than the unclean atmosphere of the traditional market.
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Customer Perception:
The perception of customers is the most challenging task in the expansion of the super
shop sector in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi consumers are extremely price conscious.
Consumers do not have to pay any VAT while buying products from the country’s
traditional retail outlets. However, VAT is charged on over 70-80% of the items sold in
supermarkets. According to NBR guidelines, each superstore must pay 5% VAT.
Because customers are price sensitive, one of their assumptions is that the price of a
product is high in the supermarket. In addition to that, Consumers may also check the
market price and bargain in traditional retail stores and raw markets. As a result, they
prefer these stores over super shops.
In Bangladesh, People’s purchasing power is increasing day by day. This year, per capita
income increased to USD 2227 from USD 2064, so we can say people’s disposable
income is increasing as well as, middle and affluent class consumers want to purchase
everything under one roof. So, demand for super shops is increasing all over the country.
According to a business standard report, it is expected to meet the rising demand within
5-10 years, super shop will be built in all district headquarters and suburban areas of BD.
According to another report of TBS news, Trading at traditional kitchen markets is
expanding at a pace of 5-6%, whereas Shawano’s growth is predicted to reach 20% every
year, which indicates that customers are moving away from traditional retail markets to
super shop. So, there is a huge growth opportunity for super shop.
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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY
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3.1 Introduction
The super shop industry in Bangladesh is a significant sector that contributes to the
country's economy, employment, and food security. However, the industry faces several
challenges, including competition from international brands, limited access to technology
and finance, and inadequate infrastructure. To address these challenges, it is essential to
understand the current state of the industry and identify potential problems and prospects.
This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the super shop industry in
Bangladesh, including its current state, challenges, and future prospects.
The research design refers to the overall strategy for collecting and analyzing data. This
study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative
data collection and analysis techniques. The mixed-methods approach was chosen to
provide a comprehensive understanding of the super shop industry in Bangladesh, as it
allows for the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data will
provide rich, in-depth insights into the experiences and perceptions of super shop owners
and managers, while the quantitative data will provide numerical insights into the
industry's trends and patterns.
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mixed-methods approach also allows for the collection of data from multiple sources,
including surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis.
Exploratory Research:
Exploratory research was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of the super shop
industry in Bangladesh. This involved conducting in-depth interviews with key
stakeholders, including super shop owners, managers, and customers. The interviews
were semi-structured, allowing for open-ended questions and discussions to gather rich,
qualitative data. The exploratory research aimed to identify emerging trends, issues, or
opportunities in the industry, and to provide a deeper understanding of the industry's
dynamics.
The exploratory research was conducted using a purposeful sampling strategy, where
participants were selected based on their expertise and knowledge of the industry. The
interviews were conducted in a natural setting, allowing for a more relaxed and informal
atmosphere. The data collected during the interviews was analyzed using thematic
analysis, where the data was coded and categorized into themes and sub-themes.
Descriptive Research:
Descriptive research was used to provide a snapshot of the current state of the super
shop industry in Bangladesh. A survey was administered to a sample of super shop
owners and managers to collect quantitative data on various aspects of the industry, such
as market trends, customer demographics, and operational practices. The survey was
designed to gather numerical data that could be analyzed and presented in tables, charts,
and graphs. The descriptive research aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the
industry's current state, including its size, structure, and performance.
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We chose to use the descriptive research design for this study because we did not
conduct any in-person interviews or site visits to collect information. Instead, we relied on
secondary data sources and the survey questionnaire to gather the necessary information
Causal Research:
Causal research was not conducted in this study, as the primary focus was on
understanding the current state of the industry and identifying potential problems and
prospects. However, future research could employ causal research designs to examine
the impact of interventions or factors on outcomes such as market share, customer
satisfaction, or profitability.
Data collection for this report was based on secondary sources. We have considered
various research publications, online journals, research papers, websites, and super shop
surveys to gather the necessary information. The secondary data sources provided
valuable insights into the current state of the super shop industry in Bangladesh, including
market trends, customer demographics, and operational practices.
The secondary data collection process involved a comprehensive review of the available
literature on the super shop industry in Bangladesh. The research team carefully selected
and analyzed the most relevant and reliable sources to ensure the accuracy and
credibility of the information used in this report. The data collected from these secondary
sources was then synthesized and presented in a coherent and structured manner to
provide a comprehensive understanding of the industry's current state, challenges, and
future prospects.
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CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS & FINDINGS
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4.1 Theoretical Framework
Retail Management Theories: The wheel of retailing, retail life cycle, and retail mix
strategies are examples of retail management ideas that provide insights into the
evolutionary stages, strategic decisions, and competitive dynamics of the superstore
business.
Bangladesh's super shop business has grown significantly since its inception in 2001,
with the advent of Agora. Other prominent firms, such as Meena Bazar and Shwapno,
have contributed to the industry's growth. However, in comparison to neighboring nations
such as Sri Lanka and India, Bangladesh's supermarket industry is still comparatively tiny,
accounting for only 1.6% of the entire retail market in 2020.
Market Size and Growth: Empirical data research indicates the size, growth trends, and
market shares of supermarkets, which reflect consumer demand, economic conditions,
and competitive intensity in different regions.
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Competitive Strategies: Analyzing competitors' strategies, strengths, and weaknesses
provides insights into the competitive dynamics, market positioning, and differentiation
techniques used by supermarkets.
4.4 Challenges
Despite increasing expectations, the superstore industry has a few problems. High
investment expenses, particularly for development and setup, create a barrier to entry.
Sharing profit margins with intermediaries can have an impact on profitability, with direct
sourcing providing better margins but bringing logistical issues. Supply chain logistics,
particularly for fresh food, remains a major concern, influencing customer perceptions of
product freshness.
Expansion Strategies: Supermarkets could seek geographic expansion into tier II and
tier III cities, format diversification, and strategic alliances to grab new markets and
acquire market share in Bangladesh.
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Sustainability Initiatives: As the middle and upper classes' purchasing power grows,
more people prefer to shop at supermarkets. The Covid-19 pandemic has hastened this
trend, with people seeking secure and sanitary shopping settings offered by
supermarkets.
Supermarkets rely largely on product sales and frequently purchase things from both
main and secondary sources. They benefit from purchasing power, which allows them to
buy in bulk and pay reduced wholesale pricing. This, combined with clever pricing
strategies such as package pricing and "buy one, get one free," allows supermarkets to
earn more revenue and profit margins than smaller retail outlets.
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5.1 Recommendation
Following its founding, Bangladesh's super shop business has grown significantly,
becoming an essential part of the nation's retail scene. Nevertheless, in spite of this
expansion, the industry still confronts a number of difficulties, such as supply chain
logistics, consumer perceptions, and complex regulations. This paper seeks to offer
suggestions to those involved in the mega store industry on how to overcome these
obstacles and seize chances for innovation and sustainable expansion considering the
findings. This research offers practical suggestions catered to the circumstances of the
Bangladesh mega shop business, drawing on theoretical frameworks from the fields of
supply chain management, retail management, and consumer behavior in addition to
empirical examination of market trends and industry dynamics. These ideas cover a wide
range of topics, including the use of technology, regional marketing tactics, entering
unexplored markets, supply chain optimization, sustainability programs, competitive
pricing tactics, regulatory advocacy, and improving customer experiences. Stakeholders
may fulfill changing consumer demands in a more dynamic and competitive market by
putting these ideas into practice, which will also increase operational efficiency and
competitiveness. With this proactive approach, Bangladesh's mega store business will be
able to reach its full potential and foster innovation and sustainable growth in the years to
come.
Several suggestions might be made in light of the research's findings about Bangladesh's
mega store industry:
Investing in Technology: To improve operational efficiency and competitiveness
in the digital market environment, supermarkets should give top priority to
implementing technology for online sales, inventory control, and consumer
engagement.
Localized Marketing Strategies: To become more relevant and competitive,
supermarkets must use localization strategies to customize their product offerings,
prices, and marketing initiatives to Bangladeshi consumers' preferences and
cultural customs.
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Expansion into Untapped Markets: To reach new customers and increase their
market share, supermarkets should investigate geographically expanding into tier
II and tier III cities. Format diversity may also be a part of this expansion to meet
the varied wants of customers.
Supply Chain Optimization: Improving consumer impressions of product
freshness depends on addressing supply chain issues, especially in the logistics
of fresh food. Supermarkets should spend money on supply chain management
techniques to guarantee effective product procurement and delivery.
Emphasis on Sustainability: To adapt to shifting consumer tastes and favorably
impact social and environmental concerns, supermarkets should keep funding
sustainability programs. This can involve adopting eco-friendly procedures in-store
and obtaining goods from vendors who embrace sustainability.
Competitive Pricing Strategies: In the face of price-conscious consumer
behavior, supermarkets should keep using their purchasing power to offer
competitive pricing strategies, such as package deals and promotional offers, to
draw in and keep customers.
Regulatory Advocacy: To address issues like the implementation of VAT and
regulatory complications that affect profitability and consumer perceptions,
supermarkets should actively engage with regulatory authorities.
Enhancement of the Customer Experience: Supermarkets ought to place a high
priority on improving the general customer experience by implementing programs
like better store designs, individualized customer support, and easy online
shopping.
Stakeholders in Bangladesh's super store industry may create innovation and sustainable
growth in the sector by putting these recommendations into practice and navigating
possibilities and difficulties.
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5.2 Conclusion
The report explores the rapidly expanding super shop market in Bangladesh,
emphasizing its expansion and importance within the retail industry. It lists important
participants including Shwapno, Agora, and Meena Bazar and describes their
responsibilities as well as the difficulties they encounter, such as inadequate supply
chains and infrastructure. Notwithstanding obstacles, the industry is expected to expand
significantly and might within seven years’ account for 10% of retail sales. Supermarkets
mostly rely on product sales to generate revenue; thus, they use strategies like package
pricing and promotions. With increased disposable money and changing customer tastes
in favor of convenience, the future appears bright. Competitiveness depends on strategic
factors like expansion, localization, and technology adoption. Despite obstacles,
superstores are expected to expand further, driven by increasing consumer demand and
a preference for cleaner shopping environments amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The
report also explores the super store business in Bangladesh, emphasizing its
development and enduring obstacles such as supply chain logistics and regulatory
barriers. Based on conceptual models and empirical research, it provides useful
recommendations specific to Bangladesh. These include supply chain optimization,
environmental initiatives, regional marketing, expanding into unexplored regions,
competitive pricing strategies, regulatory advocacy, and improving consumer
experiences. By putting these suggestions into practice, the industry will be able to
innovate and grow sustainably, meeting changing customer needs and becoming more
competitive. (Islam, 2021)
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References
5. Wing, L. A. (2020). Evolution of the Supermarket. The Parallel between USA and
Bangladesh, 1.
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