Commerce & Services Latvia

In Latvia, there are several major supermarket and hypermarket chains providing a wide range of goods and services for the population. The main ones include:

Rimi Latvia: One of the leading retail chains in Latvia, part of Rimi Baltic, owned by the Swedish company ICA AB. Rimi offers various store formats: Rimi Hyper (hypermarkets), Rimi Super (supermarkets), Rimi Mini, and Rimi Express (convenience stores). In Latvia, the network consists of 142 stores.

Maxima: The largest retail network in Latvia, offering stores in various formats: Maxima X (small convenience stores), Maxima XX (supermarkets), and Maxima XXX (hypermarkets). Maxima is widely represented across the country, making products accessible for different customer needs.

Lidl: An international discount retailer that began operations in Latvia in October 2021 with the opening of 15 stores nationwide. By October 2022, Lidl became one of the top three most visited grocery stores in Latvia, serving 39% of customers. However, as of November 2024, it has been reported that all Lidl stores in Latvia are planned to close starting January 1 of the following year.

top!: The largest chain of stores owned by Latvian entrepreneurs, with 272 stores across the country. top! stores are located in various regions of Latvia, providing a wide range of everyday products and goods.

Mego: A supermarket chain that has been operating for over 20 years, present in major Latvian cities such as Riga, Daugavpils, and Liepaja. Mego offers quality products and services, focusing on customer convenience.

Elvi: A Latvian supermarket chain present in various regions of the country. Elvi focuses on providing fresh products and locally produced goods, supporting local producers, and meeting customer needs.

SPAR: An international retail chain planning to open its first stores in Latvia in the second half of 2022 in Saldus and Liepaja, with further expansion into other cities, including Riga.

There are numerous online stores in Latvia offering a wide range of goods and services. Below are some of the largest and most popular ones:

220.lv: One of the leading online stores in Latvia, offering a variety of products including electronics, home appliances, furniture, and much more.

1a.lv: Considered one of the largest online stores in Latvia with over 15 years of experience. It offers a wide range of products, including electronics, home appliances, household goods, and much more.

RD Electronics (rdveikals.lv): Specializes in the sale of electronics and home appliances.

Barbora.lv: A large online supermarket offering groceries and everyday goods with home delivery.

Weekendshoes.lv: Specializes in footwear and clothing.

Zalando.lv: An international online fashion retailer offering a wide selection of products from various brands.

Aboutyou.lv: An online store for fashion clothing, footwear, and accessories, offering free delivery and returns, as well as a 100-day return policy.

Drogas.lv: A chain of stores specializing in household and personal hygiene products.

Internetaptieka.lv: An online pharmacy offering a wide range of medications and health products.

Wolt.com: A platform for food delivery from restaurants and stores.

In Latvia, postal services are primarily provided by the state-owned company Latvijas Pasts, which offers a wide range of services across the country:

Extensive network of branches and parcel lockers: Latvijas Pasts operates an extensive network of post offices, including modern parcel lockers, providing convenient access to postal services for residents in both cities and remote regions.

Diversity of postal shipments:

Unregistered shipments: letters, postcards, and parcels delivered directly to mailboxes without tracking capability.

Registered shipments: letters and parcels with tracking capability and delivery confirmation.

Insured shipments: valuable letters and parcels insured against loss and damage.

International shipments: Latvijas Pasts provides international delivery services, including express delivery to over 56 countries worldwide with an estimated delivery time of 4–7 business days.

Digital Services: For customer convenience, the Latvijas Pasts Pay mobile application has been developed, allowing management of VISA payment cards, payment transactions, and expense tracking.

Customs Clearance: From July 1, 2021, an electronic tool was introduced to simplify the customs clearance process of international shipments, available on any smart device.

In Latvia, in addition to the state postal service Latvijas Pasts, there are numerous courier companies providing a wide range of document, parcel, and freight delivery services both domestically and internationally.

Main courier services represented in Latvia:

DPD: An international courier company offering parcel and freight delivery services throughout Europe.

Omniva: A Baltic postal-logistics company offering courier services and a network of parcel lockers for convenient receiving and sending of parcels; operating in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

Venipak: A courier service specializing in express delivery of documents and freight across the Baltic States and Europe; offers door-to-door delivery and real-time shipment tracking.

Itella: A Finnish logistics company providing courier services in Latvia, including parcel and freight delivery as well as warehousing solutions.

Pasta un kurjeru serviss: A Latvian company specializing in international delivery of documents and freight, including CIS and EU countries.

Pony Express: An international courier service providing express delivery of documents and freight worldwide.

DHL Express: An international courier company specializing in express delivery of documents and freight to more than 220 countries worldwide.

UPS: One of the largest courier companies in the world, providing parcel and freight delivery services globally.

FedEx: An international courier service offering a wide range of logistics and transport services, including express delivery of documents and freight worldwide.

GLS: A European courier company providing parcel and freight delivery services across Europe.

In Latvia, telecommunications services – television, internet, and telephony – are provided by several major companies, each offering a variety of packages and services.

Main providers and their services

Tet: A leading telecommunications provider in Latvia; offers fiber-optic internet with speeds up to 1 Gbit/s, interactive TV with recording and pause options, as well as fixed and mobile telephony; also provides energy services and IT solutions for businesses.

LMT (Latvijas Mobilais Telefons): Initially specializing in mobile communications, LMT has expanded its range of services to include mobile internet, TV through the LMT Straume app, and fixed internet; actively developing a 5G network and offering modern solutions for home and business.

Tele2: An international mobile operator providing mobile internet, voice communication, and digital TV services.

Baltcom: The company offers optical internet, digital and interactive TV, as well as fixed telephony.

Balticom: The third largest internet and TV provider in Riga, offers high-speed internet up to 1000 Mbit/s, digital and analogue TV, and IP-telephony services.

Netvision: A rapidly growing telecommunications company with over 15 years of experience, offers optical internet, TV, and fixed telephony.

Telenet: A reliable internet provider with over 20 years of experience, offers optical internet and TV in Riga.

Food Delivery

Barbora: One of the leading online supermarkets, offering a wide range of products with home delivery.

Rimi e-veikals: The online store of the Rimi supermarket chain, providing the option to order products online for home delivery or pickup.

Nuko.lv: An online supermarket offering over 10,000 product names with fast delivery across Latvia. The assortment includes food products, household goods, pet products, and much more.

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Wolt Market: A service providing delivery of fresh groceries and essential items within 30 minutes. It offers both local products and goods from well-known brands.

Ready meal delivery

Wolt: An international platform operating in Latvia that collaborates with numerous restaurants, offering a variety of meal deliveries.

Bolt Food: A food delivery service offering a wide selection of restaurants and dishes with real-time order tracking.

CityFood: A Latvian company specializing in the delivery of sushi, burgers, WOK dishes, salads, and other meals across Riga.

Pica Lulū: A restaurant-pizzeria offering 24/7 pizza delivery and other dishes made from fresh ingredients.

Food Club: A service providing home-cooked meal delivery at affordable prices with free delivery to the office or home. The menu is updated daily and includes set meals, soups, salads, and desserts.

In Latvia, the working hours of shops and services can vary depending on the type of establishment, its location, and the season. However, there are general trends typical for most retail outlets and service enterprises.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets

Maxima: Maxima X format stores usually operate from 7:00 to 23:00, while large stores Maxima XX and XXX are open from 8:00 to 22:00.

Rimi: Working hours vary depending on the format and location of the store. Some stores are open from 7:00 to 22:00, others from 8:00 to 23:00.

Lidl: All Lidl stores operate from 7:00 to 23:00.

Shopping centers

Most shopping centers in Riga and other major cities operate from 10:00 to 21:00. However, during holidays, the schedule may change.

Small shops and services

Small shops, pharmacies, and service enterprises usually operate from 9:00 to 18:00 or 19:00. On weekends, some of them may close earlier or not work at all.

Holidays

On Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and other public holidays, many shops and services reduce their hours or close for the entire day.

Recommendations: Since working hours may change depending on the specific shop, its location, and holidays, it is recommended to check the current information on official websites or by contact phones of the establishments you are interested in.

Latvia has a wide range of both local and international brands covering various industries - from food to fashion and technology.

Local brands

Food products

Ādažu čipsi: A popular brand of potato chips known for its variety of flavors.

Kārums: A manufacturer of dairy products, especially curd snacks.

Spilva: A brand of sauces, canned goods, and other food products.

Fashion and design

M-Couture: A brand offering elegant women's dresses and accessories.

Katya Katya London: A Latvian brand with international presence, specializing in women's clothing.

Amoralle: Known for its luxurious boudoir garments and lingerie.

Cosmetics

Madara Cosmetics: A producer of natural and organic cosmetics, popular both in Latvia and beyond.

Stenders: A brand specializing in bath and body cosmetics using natural ingredients.

International brands

Retail

IKEA: The Swedish furniture giant opened its store in Riga in 2018.

H&M: The Swedish clothing brand offering fashion at affordable prices.

Technology

Samsung, Apple, Huawei: Leading global electronics manufacturers with products widely available in Latvia.

Automobiles

Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW: Popular car brands with official dealerships in the country.

Welcome to Latvia! Understanding local traditions and norms will help you feel more comfortable and confident when shopping.

Language of communication

Official language: Latvian is the state language. However, many residents, especially in Riga and other major cities, speak Russian and English.

Politeness: An attempt to use a few phrases in Latvian, for example, "Labdien" (Hello) or "Paldies" (Thank you), will be appreciated.

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Payment Methods

Cash: The Euro (€) is the official currency. Cash is widely used, especially in small shops and markets.

Cards: Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted in many places, but in remote areas, it is preferable to have cash.

Contactless payments: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other mobile payments are gaining popularity.

Tips

Restaurants and cafes: Tipping is not mandatory, but it is customary to leave 5-10% of the bill if the service was good.

Taxis and services: Tips are not obligatory, but rounding up the fare is a gesture of gratitude.

Queuing and Behavior

Queuing: Latvians respect queues and expect the same from others. Cutting in line without permission is considered rude.

Personal space: Maintaining distance in public places is customary. Physical contact, such as hugs or touches, is usually reserved for close friends and family.

Interacting with Staff

Greetings: In small shops and markets, it is welcomed to greet salespeople upon entering.

Politeness: A respectful tone and using "lūdzu" (please) when making a request will help establish pleasant communication.

Bargaining and Discounts

Fixed prices: In most stores, prices are fixed, and haggling is not customary.

Markets: At flea markets or fairs, it is appropriate to carefully inquire about discounts, but aggressive bargaining is not encouraged.

Environmental Awareness

Bags: The use of reusable bags is encouraged. Plastic bags may be provided for an additional fee.

Waste sorting: Latvia pays great attention to recycling and waste sorting. Be prepared to separate your trash.

Service Features

Reserve: Service personnel may seem less emotional compared to other cultures. This does not imply rudeness but reflects local cultural reserve.

Waiting time: Service may be leisurely. Patience is valued.

Punctuality

Meetings: Punctuality is important. Being late without warning is considered disrespectful.

Understanding and respecting local traditions and norms will make your shopping experience in Latvia pleasant and comfortable. Enjoy discovering this beautiful country and its culture!

Main sales periods

Winter sales: Begin at the end of December, right after Christmas, and continue until the end of January or early February. Discounts during this period can reach up to 70%, especially on clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Summer sales: Start in early June and last until early August. This season is characterized by significant discounts on summer clothing and shoe collections, as well as leisure and travel goods.

Additional discount periods

Mid-season sales: Many stores host promotions during off-seasons, offering discounts on past collections or surplus stock.

“Black Friday”: In recent years, the tradition of holding sales in late November coinciding with international “Black Friday” is gaining popularity in Latvia. On this day, many stores offer significant discounts on various product categories.

In Latvia, the system of household waste disposal and recycling is organized in accordance with European standards and is aimed at minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The key elements of this system include separate collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, and waste disposal.

Separate waste collection

Latvian residents are provided with containers for the separate collection of various types of waste:

Biowaste: Food leftovers, plant waste, and other organic materials are collected in brown containers.

Plastic, cardboard, and metal: Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, newspapers, and packaging are collected in yellow containers.

Glass: Bottles and glass jars are placed in green containers.

For the collection of specific types of waste, such as batteries, accumulators, and electronic equipment, special reception points are provided.

Transportation and sorting

Collected waste is transported to sorting centers, where it is further separated by material types and quality. Useful fractions are sent for recycling, while those unsuitable for reuse are sent to landfills for disposal.

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Recycling and Disposal

In Latvia, there are enterprises specializing in the recycling of various types of waste: plastic, paper, glass.

In 2020, the Getliņi EKO landfill launched a facility for processing biodegradable waste, marking an important step in strengthening the circular economy and reducing climate impact.

Latvia is taking the following steps to reduce household waste volumes:

- Increasing garbage collection fees: This measure encourages citizens to thoroughly sort waste, reducing landfill volume and increasing recycling.

Introduction of a deposit system for beverage packaging: Customers pay a deposit when purchasing goods in certain containers and can return it by handing in the used packaging.

Ban on single-use plastic: The use of single-use plastic items, such as cutlery, plates, and straws, is restricted.