More Efficient Retail Construction

Regulated construction is an obstacle to competition: The stipulations of the legislation on land use and building hamper the construction of Finnish supermarkets and hypermarkets with their vast product offer and inexpensive prices. This also has an impact on the productivity and competition of the retail grocery trade as well as on the competitiveness of the Finnish food industry.

The regulation of retail construction must be updated. Set by the Land Use and Building Act at 2,000 sq m floor area, the minimum limit of a large retail unit must first be increased to 2,500 sq m sales area, today's minimum definition of a hypermarket, which translates into over 3,500 sq m floor area.