RITAM POSLA Mario Žamboki

Mario Žamboki's food outlet Žabac found itself in an unusual position: it was named the second best new retail concept globally by Euromonitor, right after Alibaba. What makes this recognition remarkable is that Žabac hadn't even applied; Euromonitor discovered and nominated the Croatian chain on its own. The concept—selling high-quality, branded food at deep discounts—emerged from Žamboki's decades in retail and a stark statistic: Croatia wastes 330,000 tons of food annually. Žamboki isn't just running a discount store; he's built a business around reducing waste, selling items that are nearing their expiration date, are hyper-produced, or have minor packaging damage. This approach resonates not only with budget-conscious families but also with affluent, socially aware consumers. He sees his team as "opportunity catchers," finding value in what others discard, from the ends of cured meats to bulk detergents sold by the liter to reduce plastic. This conversation delves into building a unique retail model that marries profitability with environmental responsibility, proving that a truly innovative concept can emerge from a simple desire to stop waste. You’ll hear how Žamboki plans to scale a business built on scarcity, and why he views expansion, even across borders, as a series of challenges rather than problems.