NACE 47.1 – Retail Sale in Non-Specialised Stores | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 47.1 covers retail sale in non-specialised stores with a broad range of goods — including department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. In public procurement, this group is particularly relevant for the direct procurement of essential goods, office supplies and general consumables by public bodies.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 47.1 cover?

NACE 47.1 (Retail sale in non-specialised stores) classifies companies offering a broad, non-specialised range of goods in stationary retail premises — from food through household items to clothing and electronics.

Group 47.1 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) and Division 47 (Retail trade) is divided into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 47.1 are primarily municipal facilities, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, barracks and other public institutions that regularly procure general essential goods.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 47.1

Retail companies with a broad product range are relevant in public procurement primarily as suppliers for framework agreements covering general consumables, office supplies and household items — areas in which public bodies regularly meet recurring needs.

Typical contract types

• Framework agreements for office and consumable supplies: Procurement of stationery, cleaning agents, small appliances and everyday goods for authorities and public bodies
• Canteen supply and catering items: Supply of school canteens, government refectories or care facilities with food and household goods
• In-kind donations and emergency supplies: Procurement of basic goods for refugee accommodation, civil protection or social facilities
• Household and furnishing needs: Equipping of community accommodation, care homes and comparable facilities with everyday items
• Maintenance and operation of public outlets: Concession contracts for canteens or kiosks in public buildings

Thresholds and procedure types

Supply contracts for general goods are subject to the EU threshold for supply and service contracts (EUR 221,000 for central contracting authorities, EUR 443,000 for utility contracting entities, as of 2024/2025). Below these values, national procedures — such as the sub-threshold procedure in Austria or the Sub-threshold Procurement Regulation (UVgO) in Germany — are authoritative.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 47.1

The link between NACE classification and the specific tender search is provided by CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be stated in every EU-wide notice on TED.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 47.1 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Public bodies at all levels — from municipalities and districts through schools and universities to hospitals and federal authorities — regularly meet their needs for general consumables. These needs are frequently bundled through central procurement bodies: in Austria, the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) handles the central purchasing function for federal bodies; in Germany, the Federal Stores (KdB) and state stores coordinate similar tasks. Municipal in-house entities and own-account operations complete the picture at local level.

Companies and bidders

Retail companies and wholesalers under NACE 47.1 typically must provide the following suitability evidence for public tenders:

• Trade authorisation: Trade licence or relevant trade registration
• References: Evidence of comparable supply contracts with public or private contracting authorities
• Logistics and supply capability: Evidence of warehousing, supply reliability and continuity of supply
• Quality evidence: Food-law certifications (e.g. HACCP) for food deliveries, ISO 9001 for general quality management
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover evidence, creditworthiness reports

Joint bidders between retailers and logistics service providers are also common for larger framework agreements.

NACE 47.1 in context: Section G and Division 47

NACE 47.1 is part of Division 47 (Retail trade) within Section G (Trade) — one of the most multi-layered areas in public procurement.

• NACE G – Trade: Parent section covering all trade activities
• NACE 47 – Retail trade: Division covering all stationary and non-stationary retail
• NACE 47.2 – Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco: Specialised food retail
• NACE 47.4 – Retail sale of information and communication equipment: Electronics and IT specialist trade

Frequently asked questions on NACE 47.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 47.1?
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, department stores and general stores offering a broad, non-specialised range in stationary retail premises. Classification is based on the focus of economic activity.

How do I find current tenders for the supply of consumables?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED by CPV search (e.g. 30190000 for office supplies, 39800000 for cleaning agents). National sub-threshold tenders can be found on platforms such as the Austrian Federal Procurement Portal or the German DTVP.

Must retail companies hold a special certification as public bidders?
A specific NACE certification is not required. The decisive factors are the suitability evidence required in the respective tender documents — for food, for example, HACCP evidence; for general goods, usually references and creditworthiness evidence.

Can small retailers participate in public tenders?
Yes, particularly for nationally tendered framework agreements at municipal level. Lot divisions facilitate participation by smaller bidders. Capacity reliance also enables the pooling of resources in joint bidders.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.