Commerce & Services Estonia

Coop Eesti: The largest retail chain in Estonia, uniting about 320 stores across the country; the range predominantly includes local products.

Maxima: An international network represented in Estonia with 85 stores of various formats: Maxima X (small stores), Maxima XX (medium), and Maxima XXX (large hypermarkets); offers a wide range of products, including own brands.

Selver: An Estonian network with 74 stores, including supermarkets and hypermarkets; the range is focused on quality food and home products.

Rimi: Part of the Scandinavian group ICA, represented in Estonia with 88 stores of various formats: Rimi Mini, Rimi Super, and Rimi Hyper; the range includes both local and imported products, as well as own brands.

Prisma Peremarket: A Finnish network with 13 hypermarkets in Estonia; known for a wide range of products and stable prices.

Lidl: An international discount network that started operations in Estonia in 2022 with the opening of 8 stores in major cities; offers a limited but carefully selected range of products at competitive prices.

Estonia hosts many online stores offering a wide range of products and services. Below are some of the largest and most popular online stores:

Kaup24: One of the leading online hypermarkets in Estonia, offering a variety of home goods, electronics, clothing, and more.

Hansapost: A large online store specializing in the sale of furniture, garden goods, electronics, and other everyday items.

Euronics: A specialized online store for electronics and home appliances, offering a wide selection of products from leading global brands.

ON24: One of the largest online stores for furniture and home goods in Estonia.

Selver: In addition to its supermarket chain, Selver offers an online platform for ordering groceries and everyday products with home delivery.

RDE: An online store with a wide assortment of home appliances, electronics, home goods, and much more.

Alvadi: A specialized online store for auto parts and accessories for cars.

In Estonia, postal services are provided by Omniva, the national postal operator, offering a wide range of services, including the delivery of letters, parcels, and logistics solutions.

Features of Postal Services in Estonia

Postal Machines (Parcel Terminals): Omniva actively uses a network of automated postal terminals located in shopping centers and public places, allowing parcels to be sent and received at convenient times.

Electronic Services: As part of digitalization, Omniva offers electronic services such as parcel tracking, electronic invoices, and other online services, simplifying the process of sending and receiving mail.

International Shipping: Omniva ensures the delivery of postal items to 237 countries worldwide, offering competitive and transparent rates without hidden charges.

Universal Postal Service: Omniva is obliged to provide universal postal services at affordable prices across Estonia, ensuring the delivery of letters up to 2 kg and parcels up to 20 kg.

Delivery Times: Domestically, standard letters are delivered within 3 working days, and with priority service — within 1 working day.

Additional Services: In addition to traditional postal services, Omniva offers financial and insurance services and cooperates with other companies such as Western Union to provide additional services.

Other Courier Services

Other popular courier services operate in Estonia, offering a wide range of delivery services both domestically and internationally: DPD Estonia, DHL Express, Itella SmartPOST, GLS Estonia, UPS, FedEx, Venipak, Bring.

Main Operators

Telia Eesti: The largest telecommunications operator in Estonia, part of the Swedish company Telia Company.

Services:

- High-speed wired and mobile internet with wide coverage.

- Digital television with a variety of channels and interactive features.

- Mobile and fixed telephone communication.

Elisa Eesti: The second largest operator in Estonia, owned by the Finnish company Elisa Oyj.

Services:

- Provision of mobile and fixed internet with high coverage level.

- Offers digital television services with various channel packages.

- Mobile communication with diverse tariff plans.

Tele2 Eesti: Part of the international telecommunications company Tele2, providing mobile communication and internet services in Estonia.

Services:

- Mobile internet with competitive rates.

- Mobile communication with various tariff plans.

Service provisioning features

High level of digitalization: Estonia is known for its pursuit of a digital society, which is reflected in the widespread availability of high-speed internet and online services.

Wide coverage: Major operators provide almost complete coverage of the country's territory, including rural areas, ensuring access to communication services practically everywhere.

Competitive rates: The presence of several major operators creates a competitive environment, promoting the provision of quality services at reasonable prices.

Bundle offers: Many operators offer combined service packages that include internet, television, and telephone communication, allowing customers to save and gain additional benefits.

Innovative solutions: Operators actively implement new technologies, such as 5G, and offer modern services including cloud services and smart home solutions.

In Estonia, there are many food and goods delivery services that provide convenience and a variety of choices for residents.

Bolt Food: Founded in 2019 by the Estonian company Bolt, the service offers the delivery of meals from various restaurants, as well as groceries and essential items through the Bolt Market platform.

Wolt: An international delivery service operating in Estonia, offering delivery of meals from restaurants and groceries from supermarkets, such as Rimi and Prisma.

Barbora: A large online supermarket providing delivery of groceries and everyday items.

eCoop: An internet store from Coop offering home delivery of groceries and also delivering to special "food lock" locations with a cooling system.

Rimi e-pood: The online store of the Rimi chain offering grocery delivery in Tallinn, Pärnu, Rakvere, Tartu and their surroundings, as well as in Narva, Narva-Jõesuu, Sillamäe and adjacent areas.

Selver e-pood: Online store of the Selver chain offering order picking, packing, and courier delivery services.

Prisma Peremarket: The Prisma supermarket chain offers online orders with home delivery, providing a wide range of products and competitive prices.

In Estonia, the opening hours of shops and services may vary depending on the type of establishment, its location, and the day of the week. Below is general information on the operating hours of different categories of stores and services:

Supermarkets and grocery stores

Prisma: Many stores operate 24 hours a day, providing convenience to shoppers at any time.

Lidl: Usually open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Maxima: Most stores operate from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM or 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. On holidays, hours may be reduced.

Selver: Hours vary; some stores are open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. On holidays, the schedule may change.

Shopping centers

Viru Keskus: Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Toidumaailm grocery store operates from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

T1 Mall of Tallinn: Stores operate Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Selver supermarket is open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Nautica Keskus: The shopping center operates Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Rimi Hyper is open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

Stores in city centers and small boutiques

Usually operate Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, on Saturday may close an hour or two earlier, and are often closed on Sundays and public holidays. Exceptions include stores in tourist areas which may be open on weekends.

Restaurants and Cafes

Operating hours vary, but most are open from 10:00 or 11:00 until late in the evening. On weekends, these establishments may operate longer, especially in tourist areas.

Services and Facilities

Banks: Typically work from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00. Some branches may be open on Saturday, but with reduced hours.

Post Offices (Omniva): Hours depend on the specific branch, but on average from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, on Saturday from 9:00 to 15:00. Most branches are closed on Sunday.

Holidays

On holidays, many stores and services reduce working hours or close completely. It is recommended to check the schedule in advance during these periods.

Recommendations

Note that information may change, so it is always recommended to verify the latest details before visiting.

Local Estonian Brands

Baltika Grupp: The largest clothing manufacturer in the Baltic countries, managing brands like Monton, Baltman, and Ivo Nikkolo.

Sangar: A company founded in 1956 specializing in the production of high-quality shirts and other clothing.

Liviko: The largest alcoholic beverages producer in Estonia, known for brands like Vana Tallinn and Viru Valge.

Kalev: The leading confectionery producer in Estonia, offering a wide range of chocolate and sugar products.

Põhjala: A well-known craft brewery whose products are popular both in Estonia and beyond.

International Brands

Retail: Stores of chains like H&M, Zara, Mango, and others are available in large shopping centers across the country.

Electronics: International brands such as Apple, Samsung, and Sony are represented through official distributors and retail networks.

Automobiles: Official dealers of brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and others operate in Estonia.

Grocery Chains: Besides local chains, international retailers like Maxima, owned by the Lithuanian company Maxima Grupe, are also operational in Estonia.

Features of Local Etiquette and Shopping Culture

Politeness and Formality: Estonians value polite and formal communication. Sellers and service staff are usually polite but not intrusive, which reflects respect for the customer's personal space.

Independence of Shoppers: Shoppers prefer to choose products independently without undue interference from staff. If assistance is needed, the customer will reach out to the seller.

Queues and Distance: In public places, including stores, it is customary to observe queuing and maintain distance between people, emphasizing respect for personal space.

Punctuality: Estonians value punctuality, so it is important to observe the established hours of operation for stores and services. Delays or tardiness may be viewed negatively.

Cashless Payment: Cashless payment methods are widely used in Estonia. Many prefer to use bank cards or mobile payments, which make the purchase process faster and more convenient.

Eco-friendliness: Estonians place great importance on ecology and sustainable development. Many stores offer reusable bags, and shoppers try to minimize the use of plastic and choose eco-friendly products.

Restraint in Expressing Emotions: In interactions with sellers and other shoppers, Estonians exhibit restraint and are not inclined to display intense emotions. This reflects their respectful attitude towards others and a desire to avoid unnecessary attention.

Understanding and adhering to these aspects of local etiquette and shopping culture can help immigrants adapt more quickly and feel comfortable in Estonian society.

Main Sale Seasons

Winter Sales

Period: Typically begin at the end of December, immediately after Christmas, and last until the end of January or early February.

Discounts: During the first weeks, discounts are around 30-50%, increasing to 70-80% by the end of the period.

Summer Sales

Period: From mid-June to the end of July or early August.

Discounts: Similar to winter sales, starting at 30-50% and increasing towards the end of the period.

Special Discount Days

Black Friday: The last Friday of November; many stores and online platforms offer significant discounts on a wide range of products.

Cyber Monday: The Monday following Black Friday; special offers and discounts mainly in online stores.

E-Monday: The second Monday in November; the Estonian version of Cyber Monday, when local online stores offer discounts and promotions.

Main aspects of the waste disposal and recycling system in Estonia

Separate waste collection

Categories: Citizens are required to sort waste into the following categories: paper and cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, biodegradable waste, and mixed waste.

Containers: Special containers for each waste category are installed in residential areas, facilitating the process of separate collection.

Recycling reception centers

Operation: In cities and settlements, recycling centers are in operation where specific types of waste, such as electronics, batteries, and hazardous materials, can be deposited.

Incentives: Some centers offer cash rewards for certain types of waste, encouraging citizens to participate in the recycling program.

Recycling and reuse

Collected waste is sent to recycling facilities, where new materials or products are made from it. Recycling helps reduce the consumption of natural resources and decreases the volume of waste sent to landfills.

Legislation and control

Government authorities set regulations and rules for waste management, ensuring compliance through a system of fines and inspections.