Slobodan Školnik
Episode · #337
RITAM POSLA Slobodan Školnik
Guest Slobodan ŠkolnikHosted by Lidija KiselyakMay 3, 2026
Slobodan Školnik
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
The recent sale of Emmezeta, a prominent retail chain in Croatia and Serbia, might suggest a period of quiet transition. Instead, its CEO, Slobodan Školnik, is deeply engaged in a public debate over market freedom and government regulation. As Vice President of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Školnik holds a firm view on interventions like the proposed ban on Sunday retail work, arguing that administrative measures in a recovering economy are counterproductive. This conversation offers a clear perspective on how business leaders navigate both strategic corporate changes and broader economic policy, highlighting the persistent tension between market forces and regulatory impulses.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Emmezeta's sale to the Polish Mercury Market group wasn't a divestment of a struggling asset, but a strategic move to partner with a large retailer operating in three countries. A new owner isn't just an injection of capital; it's an opportunity to gain resources and expand the existing business model into new markets, both digital and physical.
02
While Emmezeta's sales in Croatia dropped in 2020, its Serbian market grew, even during lockdowns, as people redirected travel budgets to home improvements. A crisis doesn't just cut spending; it reallocates it, and identifying where those funds flow can reveal unexpected growth pockets.
03
The arrival of Ikea in Croatia sparked fears of market collapse for local furniture retailers, but Emmezeta, along with Lesnina, continues to hold a top-three market position. A new entrant, even a global giant, doesn't always shrink the pie for incumbents; it can expand the market and sharpen competition, forcing existing players to adapt rather than disappear.
04
As Vice President of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Školnik states their opposition to all bans, including Sunday work, advocating for less market regulation. An employers' association's core role is to protect its members' freedom to operate, even when facing popular or political pressure for restrictions that could harm specific sectors.
05
The state's proposed ban on Sunday work, ostensibly to protect workers, is an "unskillful intervention" according to Školnik, who argues that labor laws and collective agreements are the appropriate tools. Regulators often target business operating hours when worker protection is the stated goal, but the more effective approach is to use labor laws that directly address worker conditions, not business operations.
06
Two-thirds of EU countries permit liberal Sunday working hours, a fact Školnik highlights by noting that even deeply Catholic Italy operates on many holidays. Cultural or religious contexts don't always dictate market regulation; many countries with similar backgrounds prioritize economic flexibility over blanket operating restrictions.
07
With Croatia's GDP significantly down in 2020 and years projected for recovery to 2019 levels, Školnik argues it's "especially bad" to impose administrative bans. Imposing restrictions on major economic drivers like trade and tourism during a recovery period is counterproductive, hindering the very growth needed to bounce back.
08
Emmezeta's Croatian sales are significantly driven by equipping hundreds of thousands of private tourist accommodations, which Školnik calls "micro-investments." In tourism-heavy economies, local retailers are heavily reliant on these small, distributed capital expenditures, making their performance sensitive to shifts in tourism sentiment.
09
While different trade sectors within HUP have varied opinions on the importance of Sunday sales, Školnik notes they ultimately united against any ban that directly harms individual members. An umbrella organization like HUP must prioritize the collective freedom to operate for all its members, even if a restriction might appear to benefit some in the short term.