Discount chains in Denmark are experiencing a significant increase in the number of stores open on Constitution Day. According to the law, stores with an annual turnover of less than 41.2 million Danish krone are allowed to open on public holidays, creating new opportunities for several stores. Lidl has reported that almost a third of their stores in Denmark now have permission to open on Constitution Day. Specifically, 44 out of 160 Lidl stores, which is a significant increase compared to last year. This increase is due to the opening of several new, smaller stores in various areas such as Rødby, Amager, Hurup, Bjerringbro, Mejrup, and Østerbro in Copenhagen.
Rema 1000 has also seen a doubling in the number of stores open on Constitution Day. This year, 55 out of 405 Rema 1000 stores will be open, compared to 26 stores last year. This increase marks a significant change for the chain. Netto is also following the trend with nearly half of their stores open on the holiday. Out of the 531 Netto stores in Denmark, 265 will be open on Constitution Day. Even more noteworthy, almost all 365discount stores will be open on Constitution Day. Coop, the company behind 365discount, has announced that 360 of the chain’s stores will be open.
Jens Juul Nielsen, press officer at Coop, stated that only a handful of stores have a turnover above the limit that allows them to open on the holiday. These changes reflect a general trend in retail, where chains are taking advantage of opportunities within the law to increase accessibility for customers, even on public holidays.