Commerce & Services Lithuania

In Lithuania, several major supermarket and hypermarket chains provide a wide range of goods and services for the population. The main ones include:

Maxima: The largest supermarket chain in Lithuania, owned by the Lithuanian company Maxima Grupė. The stores are divided into three formats: Maxima X (small neighborhood stores), Maxima XX (medium-sized supermarkets), and Maxima XXX (large hypermarkets). There are 55 stores of this chain operating in Vilnius.

Iki: The second-largest supermarket chain in Lithuania, managed by IKI Lietuva. The chain offers a variety of groceries and everyday goods.

Lidl: An international discount chain actively expanding in Lithuania since 2016. Lidl is known for its low prices and frequent promotions.

Norfa: A Lithuanian supermarket chain offering goods at competitive prices. The stores are categorized by size: Norfa S, L, XL, XXL, and H.

Rimi: A supermarket chain owned by the Swedish company ICA Gruppen. In Lithuania, stores operate under the brands Rimi Hyper, Rimi Super, and Rimi Mini, offering a wide range of food and household products.

Aibė: An association of small stores operating on a franchise basis. The network includes over 700 outlets across Lithuania, primarily in small towns and villages.

Vynoteka: A specialized store chain focusing on the sale of alcoholic beverages and related products. The assortment includes about 1500 types of wine and 200 types of beer.

Several major online stores operate in Lithuania, offering a wide range of goods and services:

Pigu.lt: Founded in 2008; one of Lithuania's leading online stores; offers home, beauty, garden, office, pet, children's, leisure, and sports products.

Varle.lt: An electronic sales platform recognized as one of the most popular in Lithuania; offers a wide selection of electronics, appliances, and other products.

Senukai.lt: Part of the Kesko Senukai network, specializing in building materials, household appliances, home and garden products.

RDE.lt: An online store with a wide range of appliances, electronics, and beauty products.

1A.lt: One of the largest online stores in Lithuania with many years of experience; offers technology, electronics, building materials, garden products, and much more.

Rimi.lt: An online store of the Rimi supermarket chain; offers fresh products, promotions, and convenient delivery.

In Lithuania, postal services are mainly provided by the national operator Lietuvos Paštas (Lithuanian Post), offering a wide range of services to meet the needs of both individuals and businesses.

Main services of Lithuanian Post:

- Mail Items: Delivery of letters, postcards, and documents both domestically and internationally.

- Parcels: Sending and receiving parcels of various weights and sizes.

- Express Delivery (LP Express): Accelerated delivery of items within Lithuania and internationally.

- Logistics Solutions: Warehousing, distribution, and order fulfillment services for businesses.

- Financial Services: Money transfers, payment collection, and insurance.

Several international and local courier services also operate in Lithuania, providing a wide range of document, parcel, and freight delivery services.

International courier services:

DHL Express: An international company specializing in express delivery of goods, documents, and parcels worldwide.

FedEx: One of the world's leading courier service providers offering reliable and fast delivery to various countries.

UPS: An international logistics company offering express delivery and shipment tracking services.

Local courier services:

Omniva LT: The Lithuanian branch of an Estonian postal company, providing parcel and letter delivery services, as well as a network of parcel terminals for convenient receipt of items.

LP Express: A courier service that is part of Lietuvos Paštas, specializing in express delivery throughout Lithuania and beyond.

Venipak: A Lithuanian courier company offering parcel and freight delivery services, as well as e-commerce solutions. 

In Lithuania, telecommunications services—television, internet, and telephone communication—are provided by several major operators, each offering a variety of packages and rates tailored to different user needs.

Main telecommunication companies

Telia Lietuva: The largest operator, providing fixed-line and mobile services, broadband internet, and digital television. The company is actively developing a 5G network, covering 80% of the country's territory.

Tele2: An international company offering mobile communication and internet services.

Bitė Lietuva: A mobile operator also providing internet and digital television services.

Cgates: A local provider specializing in cable television and internet services, offering various packages for home users.

Service provision features

Mobile communication: Lithuania has three main mobile operators: Telia, Tele2, and Bitė, each offering prepaid services under separate brands: Extra and Ežys (Telia), Pildyk (Tele2), Labas (Bitė). The 3G/4G network coverage extends throughout the country, providing stable connectivity and internet access.

Internet: Broadband access is provided through fiber-optic, DSL, and mobile networks. The speed and quality of connection are high, especially in urban areas. Mobile internet is available through 4G and 5G networks, ensuring high data transmission speeds.

Television: Operators offer digital and interactive television with a variety of channels and additional services, such as video rentals and the ability to record programs. 

In Lithuania, food and goods delivery services are widely popular, especially in large cities. The main services providing such services are:

Wolt

An international food delivery platform actively operating in Lithuania; it partners with a variety of restaurants, offering users a wide selection of dishes delivered to home or office. The service is available in cities like Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys.

Bolt Food

A food delivery service launched by Bolt in 2019; it offers delivery of dishes from various restaurants as well as groceries and daily essentials through the Bolt Market service.

Barbora

The largest online supermarket in Lithuania, specializing in the delivery of groceries and household goods.

Rimi e-parduotuvė

The online store of the Rimi supermarket chain, providing the option to order groceries online with home delivery or in-store pickup. The service is available in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Palanga, and Neringa.

LastMile

A service for delivering groceries and goods from various supermarkets and stores.

Bolt Market

A service for quick delivery of groceries and daily essentials; it offers a wide range of products with delivery within a short time via the Bolt Food app. 

In Lithuania, the operating hours of stores and services may vary depending on the type of establishment, its location, and the season. However, there are general trends characteristic of most retail points and service enterprises.

Typical operating hours

Grocery supermarkets: Generally open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Some stores may open earlier or close later, especially in large cities.

Shopping centers: Stores in shopping centers are usually open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday and from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sundays. Restaurants and cafes inside shopping centers may operate longer hours, for example, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Small shops and boutiques: Often operate from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. On Saturday, operating hours may be reduced, and on Sunday, some may be closed.

Government institutions and offices: Usually operate from 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. They are generally closed on weekends.

Features on holidays

On holidays, the operating schedule of stores and services may change. For example, on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year's Eve (December 31), many stores operate on a reduced schedule, closing earlier than usual. On the first day of Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1), some stores may be completely closed.

Seasonal Changes

Some retail chains may change their working hours depending on the season. For example, during the summer, stores may operate longer, while in autumn and winter, they may reduce their hours.

Recommendations: Before visiting a specific store or service, it is recommended to check its current working schedule on the official website or by phone, especially on public holidays. 

Local Lithuanian Brands

Maxima: The largest supermarket chain in Lithuania, offering a wide range of food and everyday products.

BIOK Laboratorija: A leading cosmetics manufacturer, known for its brands "Margarita" and "Ecodenta," valued for their use of natural ingredients.

Stumbras: One of the oldest producers of alcoholic beverages in Lithuania, famous for its vodkas and liqueurs.

Utenos Trikotažas: The largest producer of knitted products in Central and Eastern Europe, offering clothing under its own brands and collaborating with international brands.

Audimas: A Lithuanian brand of sports and casual wear, combining modern technologies and quality traditions.

Local Designer Brands

House of Naive: A boutique founded by designer Giedre Ramonaite; offers clothing made from local materials with an emphasis on national traditions.

Jurate: The brand specializes in linen clothing; created by designer Jurate Neten.

Muku: Founded in 2009; produces children's and women's clothing made from Lithuanian linen.

International Brands Represented in Lithuania

IKEA: The Swedish furniture giant has a store in Vilnius, offering a wide range of home products.

Zara, H&M, Mango, Bershka: Popular international clothing brands, available in major shopping centers in the country.

Lidl: A German discount chain, offering a variety of products at competitive prices.

Swedbank: A Swedish bank providing a wide range of financial services.

Neste: A Finnish company engaged in the production and sale of fuel, operating a network of gas stations in Lithuania. 

Lithuania, as a country with a rich cultural heritage and traditions, has specific etiquette norms and shopping culture that can be useful for immigrants.

Features of Local Etiquette

Reserve and Politeness: Lithuanians are known for their reserve and caution. They value polite and respectful communication, avoiding excessive expressiveness. In public places, it is customary to behave calmly and not attract unnecessary attention.

Punctuality: Punctuality is highly valued in Lithuanian society. Being late is considered disrespectful of other people's time, so it's important to arrive on time for meetings and events.

Addressing: In introductions and official situations, it's customary to address by name and surname, using titles "Ponas" (Mr.) or "Ponia" (Mrs.) before the surname. More informal communication may allow using just the first name.

Shopping Culture

Store Hours: Most stores are open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays. On Saturdays, the working day is shorter, and many stores are closed on Sundays. However, large supermarkets and shopping centers may operate longer and open without breaks.

Customer Service: Lithuanians appreciate quality service but do not expect excessive friendliness. Salespeople are usually polite and willing to help, but not intrusive.

Queues: In public places, such as stores and banks, it is customary to observe queues. Lithuanians respect personal space, so it's important to keep a distance when standing in line.

Payment: Most stores accept both cash and bank cards. Contactless payments are becoming increasingly popular.

Bags and Ecology: Lithuania actively promotes ecological initiatives, so plastic bags are often paid for in stores. Many residents use reusable bags for shopping.

Markets and Fairs: Traditional markets are popular among locals. Here you can find fresh products, crafts, and souvenirs. It is customary to bargain at the markets but in a polite and respectful manner. 

Main Sales Seasons

Winter Sales: Start in mid-January and continue until mid-February. During this period, stores aim to sell off the remaining winter collections, offering discounts that gradually increase from 30% to 70% as the end of the sales approaches.

Summer Sales: They start at the end of June and continue until the end of July. The goal is to make room for autumn collections, so discounts on summer goods can reach 50-70%.

Special Discount Days

"Black Friday": Held on the last Friday of November. On this day, many stores, both physical and online, offer significant discounts on a wide range of products. In Lithuania, "Black Friday" has become popular, and many retailers participate in this event, offering discounts of up to 50%.

"Cyber Monday": Follows right after "Black Friday" and focuses on discounts in online stores. It is a great opportunity to purchase electronics and other goods at reduced prices.

Additional Sales

Interseasonal sales: Many stores hold promotions at the end of each season — spring, autumn, and winter, offering discounts on outgoing season items.

Special shopping mall promotions: For example, the Vilnius shopping center "Akropolis" holds an annual event called "Jamam," usually on the penultimate Saturday of November, where discounts reach 20-40% on the entire assortment.

Lithuania has a comprehensive system for recycling and disposal of household waste aimed at reducing its negative impact on the environment and increasing resource use efficiency.

Separate waste collection

Food waste: From 2024, all Lithuanian municipalities are required to organize separate collection of food waste. In Vilnius, for example, residents are provided with special orange bags and bins for collecting food waste, which are then disposed of in mixed household waste containers. At sorting stations, these bags are separated and sent for composting.

Packaging materials: There are containers installed in cities for the separate collection of paper, glass, and plastic. Blue containers are for paper, green for glass, and yellow for plastic.

Deposit return system:

Since 2016, Lithuania has operated a deposit system for collecting beverage containers. When purchasing a drink, a deposit of 10 euro cents is added to the price for each bottle or can. Consumers can return this amount by returning the empty containers to special machines — reverse vending machines, installed throughout the country. This system has shown high efficiency: about 92% of containers are returned and recycled.

Thus, the household waste recycling and disposal system in Lithuania is based on separate collection, producer responsibility, and active public participation, which contributes to effective waste management and reducing their impact on the environment.