The Chairman of the Retailers Association of Ukraine (RAU), Andriy Zhuk, reported on the dynamics of the development of Ukrainian retail in wartime. In particular, he noted that last year, pharmacy retail was the most actively developing sector, accounting for 45% of all new retail outlets. Non-food retail and grocery stores held shares of 22% and 16% of new establishments, respectively.
This is reported by Finway
Competition in the electronics segment has led to market saturation, which may result in a decrease in the number of stores in this segment. The war has also complicated operations in the children’s and premium goods segments, further impacting the market.
Geography of Retail in Ukraine
Currently, the largest number of stores is concentrated in Kyiv and the surrounding area, with more than 5,500 retail outlets. In 2024, the number of establishments in the region increased by over 600. Dnipropetrovsk region has about 2,000 stores, nearly 300 of which opened last year, while Lviv region also counts 2,000 establishments. Additionally, important retail centers remain Odesa and Kharkiv, two cities with a population of over a million.
Market Prospects After the War
Andriy Zhuk believes that after the end of the full-scale war and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, significant growth in the retail market is expected, which could become the largest on the continent.