How ATB will become a Ukrainian Lidl: the co-owner of the chain presented an ambitious expansion plan
15 April 2025 17:16
Ukraine’s largest retailer, ATB Corporation, has announced ambitious plans to expand its network to 5,000 stores. This is almost 3.5 times more than at present, as as of the beginning of 2025, the chain has about 1,300 outlets, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing an interview with Viktor Karachun, co-owner of the chain.
According to him, last year the chain opened 47 markets, and 11 more underwent reconstruction.
How much does one store cost?
Opening one new ATB store costs the company an average of USD 2.5 million. This amount includes the cost of land (or lease), construction or refurbishment of a building with a retail space of about 1400 square meters, repairs, purchase of equipment, machinery, refrigeration and logistics.
What does the growth strategy look like?
ATB is not just increasing the number of outlets – the company is actively reviewing its approaches to their location. The company is prioritizing cities with a population of 10,000 or more.
“The market is far from being saturated here. We believe that we can open 5,000 stores in total. Now we have 1300,” said Karachun.
In addition, the company has started opening stores near the outskirts of cities and in small towns where large retailers were not present a few years ago.
In 2025, the corporation plans to open 80 new stores and acquire another 100 real estate properties for future outlets. This is part of a long-term plan that takes into account the economic situation, competition and logistics.
“ATB invests only its own funds in development and does not have a single cent of loans. The chain is able to open 100-120 stores annually, but the situation with construction workers and martial law are obstacles,” said the co-owner of the chain.
Financial results
ATB demonstrates stable turnover growth. In 2024, the company’s total revenue exceeded UAH 208.9 billion, which is 15% more than in 2023. During this time, the chain opened 47 new stores, and 11 more were renovated in accordance with new design and energy efficiency standards. The number of employees exceeded 56,000.
Focus on energy efficiency
ATB is actively investing in autonomy and energy efficiency. The company is installing solar power plants on the roofs of its stores, which significantly reduces electricity costs. Currently, more than 40 stores already have solar panels, and more than 180 are at the design or installation stage. It is estimated that one store with panels can save about UAH 1.5 million per year.
In addition, the company is upgrading refrigeration equipment and lighting systems, switching to technologies that consume less energy and require less maintenance.
Read also: “ATB launches its fourth own brand: what it offers to consumers
What is ATB’s position in the market?
ATB is one of the leaders in the Ukrainian food retail market. Its closest competitors have a much smaller number of outlets. For comparison, the European discount retailer Lidl has more than 12,000 stores in more than 30 countries, but ATB is a company that operates exclusively within Ukraine.
In other words, ATB actually repeats the scale and strategy of international chains while remaining a local business. This allows it to respond flexibly to challenges, support Ukrainian producers and develop logistics within the country.
How will the opening of new stores affect the consumer?
The large-scale expansion means greater accessibility of essential goods for millions of Ukrainians, especially in regions where the choice of stores was previously limited. Thanks to centralized logistics, own imports and control over the production of its own brands, the company maintains some of the lowest prices on the market.
In the future, this also means new jobs, investment in the regions and an overall economic impact – through taxes, support for local infrastructure and the development of related industries such as construction, transportation, IT and packaging.
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