It is possible to use several indicators for evaluating the characteristics of the retail structure. Each of the indicators used to identify the key features of Croatian retail structure would result in a conclusion about its fragmentation. Tradesmen's form is significant segment of the small retailers in the Republic of Croatia. The subject of interest of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of the Croatian retail trade structure. The paper examines trends in modern retail, which discusses the place and role of small traders in the Croatian retail structure. None of contemporary trends in developed European retail acts in favour of small traders. The paper addresses key weaknesses of small traders and their perspectives on the doorstep of Croatia in the European Union. This paper will explore and anticipate, in more detail, the position of small traders in the Croatian retail market in circumstances when the Croatian retail market is becoming an integral part of the EU market.

Internationalization and concentration are two key processes that are taking place in retail markets of the European countries. The consequence of the internationalization process in retail trade segment is increasing significance of foreign traders in retail structures with, simultaneously, decreasing significance of national/domestic traders. The intensity of mentioned process differs from country to country and it is conditioned by number of push and pull factors that are accelerating of slowing down the process. Retail trade concentration process occurs in all European countries and it's manifested with decreasing number of leading traders with simultaneous increase in their market share. Reached level of retail trade concentration is conditioned by the whole economy concentration level of each country. Retail trade internationalization process in Croatian retail market is influenced by the presence of foreign traders from EU markets. Foreign traders headquartered in one of the EU countries controlled 29.6% of total sales in food and grocery retail trade segment in 2007. The advantages and disadvantages of two mentioned processes will be explored in details and presented in this paper.

Regionalization and globalization are forms of business internationalization that differ in terms of their frequency and market distribution. There are more frequent examples of companies, and of entire economies, which have internationalized business in a regional direction, as compared to those that have globalized their businesses. Each regionalization and globalization is also at the same time the internationalization of business, while only some internationalization is also the globalization of business. The paper will take a detailed look at the position of the Croatian economy and some of its segments undergoing internationalization. The research shows how the Croatian economy offers an example of regionalization. The EU market is exceptionally important as a region for the Croatian economy. This can be supported by the market movement of the Croatian exchange of goods, import-export, foreign investment in the Croatian economy, contribution of regions like the EU with Croatian tourist results, and trading companies and their origin in the process of the internationalization of the Croatian distributive market.