Retail trade network in particular European countries. The current research on retail trade was conducted on a local, regional and national level. However, we lack a complex diagnosis of this economic sector in the international aspect on the level of many European countries. The objective of this study is the diagnosis of retail trade functioning in Europe and an attempt to outline perspectives and directions of development of this economic sector. The report constitutes a complex study of retail trade, retailers and retail chains functioning in Europe and its selected countries. The book was prepared on the basis of primary and secondary sources of information. Subject literature, specialised journals and publications available on the Internet were used.