NACE 47.8 – Retail Sale via Stalls and Markets | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 47.8 covers retail sale via stalls and markets — including weekly markets, flea markets, street markets and other non-store sales outlets in the open air or in temporary buildings. In public procurement, this group is primarily relevant for the allocation of market sites, stall pitches and the engagement of market traders for public events.

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

What does NACE 47.8 cover?

NACE 47.8 (Retail sale via stalls and markets) classifies traders who offer their goods not in fixed retail premises but at markets, stalls or mobile facilities — a segment with specific procurement-law issues around market rights and public spaces.

Group 47.8 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and Division 47 (Retail trade) is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 47.8 are primarily municipalities and cities as holders of market rights, municipal market operators, publicly owned trade fair organisers and public organisers of festivals and Christmas markets.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 47.8

Market trade touches public procurement law on several levels: municipalities allocate market stall pitches, engage market operators and procure infrastructure for public markets — all activities with procurement-law relevance.

Typical types of contract

• Allocation of market stall pitches: Municipal allocation of pitches at weekly, farmers' and speciality markets — frequently structured as a concession or right of use
• Operation of municipal markets: Engagement of market operators to organise, manage and let market space on behalf of the municipality
• Infrastructure and market equipment: Procurement of market stalls, tents, pavilions, furniture and technical equipment for public markets
• Catering and hospitality at public events: Allocation of pitches for hospitality at festivals, city events and public Christmas markets
• Cleaning and waste disposal at markets: Engagement of cleaning and waste disposal services for municipal markets and market sites
• Christmas market operation: Concession award for the operation of municipal Christmas markets — often structured as a services concession

Thresholds and procedure types

Concessions for market operation and stall allocation are subject to concession procurement law where the value exceeds the EU threshold for concessions (EUR 5,538,000, as of 2024/2025). Below this threshold and for purely national markets, national procurement rules apply. Many stall allocations are made on the basis of municipal market regulations and bylaws outside formal public procurement law.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 47.8

For NACE 47.8, CPV codes are relevant at two levels: for the procurement of market infrastructure by public authorities and for concession awards to market operators.

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

For whom is NACE 47.8 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Cities and municipalities are the central contracting authorities in the NACE 47.8 segment — they hold the market right, provide spaces and organise or award the operation of public markets. Municipal market operators frequently take on the management of city markets as in-house companies. Publicly owned event companies award concessions for Christmas markets, festivals and city events. Trade fair and exhibition companies with public participation are also relevant contracting authorities.

Companies and bidders

Market operators and traders wishing to participate in public tenders face specific requirements:

• Trade authorisation: Itinerant trade licence or in-store trading licence, depending on the form of activity
• Evidence for concession awards: Operating concept, evidence of experience in market or event operation, references
• Economic capacity: Annual turnover, insurance certificates (in particular liability and event insurance)
• Infrastructure evidence: Own equipment (stalls, vehicles, refrigeration), logistics capacity

When stall pitches are allocated by municipalities, it should be noted that this is not always subject to formal public procurement law — municipal market regulations and bylaws may provide their own admission procedures.

NACE 47.8 in context: Section G and Division 47

NACE 47.8 has a special position within Division 47: market trade touches on questions of municipal market law, concession law and public events — with distinct procurement-law implications.

• NACE G – Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles: Parent section covering all trading activities
• NACE 47 – Retail trade: Division covering all in-store and non-store retail trade
• NACE 47.7 – Retail sale of other goods in specialised stores: Clothing, pharmacies, optical goods
• NACE 47.9 – Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets: Mail order, online retail

Frequently asked questions about NACE 47.8 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 47.8?
Traders predominantly active at markets, fairs and stalls — including market stallholders, showpeople, market traders at weekly and speciality markets, and operators of mobile sales facilities.

Are stall allocations subject to public procurement law?
That depends on the legal structure. Allocations under municipal market regulations may constitute mere licences to use, falling outside public procurement law. However, if the economic value of a market operation contract exceeds the concession threshold, the concession procurement rules of Directive 2014/23/EU apply.

How do I find tenders for market operation and Christmas market concessions?
Concession notices above the EU threshold can be found on TED. For municipal tenders below the threshold, the relevant municipal gazettes, local authority websites and regional procurement platforms are recommended.

What applies to the procurement of market infrastructure (stalls, tents)?
The procurement of market stalls, pavilions and tents by public bodies is a regular supply or service contract and is fully subject to public procurement law where the relevant thresholds are exceeded.

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