Former MP is building a French fries factory in Cherkasy region: how much will it cost and when will it start working?
27 August 05:24
Former MP Serhiy Tereshchuk is building Ukraine’s first French fries plant in Cherkasy region. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Forbes.ua.
Cherkasy-based Poteyto Agro, which is part of the Maize seed producer group owned by former MP Serhiy Tereshchuk, began construction of Ukraine’s first French fry plant in July.
When will the plant be launched and how much will it cost?
The owner plans to launch the plant in parts, as he is unable to invest all the funds at once.
Construction began in July 2025 at the Biosens Industrial Park. According to Tereshchuk, earthworks are currently underway:
“We are making a pit, laying a road, and in the fall we will start building walls,” the businessman says.
The cost of the project is estimated at $110 million (over UAH 4.5 billion). It is planned to reach full capacity – 60,000 tons of French fries per year – in 2027.
How the plant will work
The plant will be built in several stages. The first stage – a line for the production of potato flour and flakes (6,000 tons per year) – is scheduled to open in early 2026. Investments in this stage will amount to about $11 million, most of which will come from Maize Group, and the rest from a bank loan and investors Tereshchuk is currently looking for.
The full launch of French fries production is scheduled for 2027. The 10-hectare plant will employ about 300 people.
The raw materials will be grown on the company’s own and leased fields, as well as purchased from farmers within a 300 km radius.
Why this is a unique project for Ukraine
According to Olha Samoilichenko, executive director of the Ukrainian Association of Potato Producers, there are no special varieties of French fries grown in Ukraine yet:
“We need varieties like Challenger and mandatory irrigation – they are very sensitive to high temperatures,” the expert explained.
Due to its location in the industrial park, the company will receive tax benefits: income tax exemption for 10 years (subject to investment in expansion), preferential import of equipment, and compensation for infrastructure costs.
Will McDonald’s buy Ukrainian fries?
Tereshchuk plans to supply products to national retail chains, restaurants, and McDonald’s, as well as consider exports to the EU and the Middle East.
McDonald’s said that the cooperation will depend on:
- product quality and certification,
- stability of supply,
- business reputation of the supplier,
- competitive cost.
Currently, about 60% of McDonald’s ingredients in Ukraine are local, but French fries are still purchased abroad, particularly in Poland.
When to expect Ukrainian fries
The company plans to launch the first products in 2026, and mass production of fries in 2027. Local production is expected to reduce logistics costs and compete with imports.
