Ukrainian stores in Poland: Network development and product range
In recent years, the Polish market has been heavily influenced by the Ukrainian diaspora, which has been gradually growing due to labor migration, education, war, and permanent residence. Along with the emergence of Ukrainian communities in Poland, the need for Ukrainian products has arisen, which has given rise to the creation of numerous stores and chains offering goods from Eastern Europe. Today, we will take a look at the most popular Ukrainian store chains in Poland, their assortment and features.
Best Market chain
Best Market is one of the largest chains of Ukrainian stores in Poland. Its stores are conveniently located in major cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Lodz, and others.
Product range:
- Traditional Ukrainian sweets (candies, chocolate products);
- Sausages and lard;
- Canned food (meat, fish, vegetables);
- Beverages (fruit drinks, kvass, juices);
- Caviar, frozen fish and seafood.
In addition to stationary stores, the chain offers online shopping, which is convenient for those living in smaller cities. Best Market’s prices are affordable and the quality of its products is high, making it very popular among Ukrainians.
Słowianoczka
Stores under the Słowianoczka brand specialize in selling products from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. They have already become recognizable among Ukrainians living in Poland.
Product range:
- Flour, cereals and pasta from Ukraine;
- Pickles (cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage);
- Cheese and dairy products;
- Sweet water, kvass, energy drinks;
- Meat and fish products.
The chain’s specialty is its focus on the quality of products that meet the traditions of Ukrainian cuisine. “Slovianochka is active not only in large cities but also in the suburbs.
Odesa Market
Odesa Market is one of the newer but already well-known chains offering Ukrainian goods in Poland. Stores are located in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk and other cities.
Product range:
- Fresh meat and sausage products;
- Bakery products (pita bread, flatbread, Ukrainian bread);
- Frozen semi-finished products (dumplings, dumplings, pancakes);
- Tea and coffee of Ukrainian brands;
- Spices and sauces popular in Ukrainian cuisine.
Odesa Market also runs promotions that attract customers. They often cooperate with Ukrainian producers, which guarantees the authenticity and quality of the products.
Ukrainian corners in Polish supermarkets
In addition to specialized chains, many supermarkets in Poland, such as Carrefour, Auchan, Lidl, and Biedronka, have special “Ukrainian shelves”. Here you can find products that are in demand among Ukrainians:
- Buckwheat, flour, sunflower oil;
- Canned food and marinades;
- Sweets, including cakes and wafers of Ukrainian brands.
Other specialized stores
In addition to large chains, there are many small private stores in Poland that specialize in products from Ukraine. For example:
- Ukrainian bazaars: small shops or kiosks in big cities selling seasonal products and delicacies.
- Online stores: platforms that deliver Ukrainian goods to the customer’s home.
Wesola Pani, i.e. “Galia Baluvana”
“Galya Baluvana“ is a well-known Ukrainian chain of stores specializing in the production and sale of homemade semi-finished products. In Ukraine, the chain has more than 700 stores, offering a wide range of dishes such as dumplings, pelmeni, pancakes, cutlets and other products made according to traditional recipes.
In Poland, the chain operates under the Wesola Pani brand. As of June 2024, Wesola Pani has 120 franchise outlets and three own frozen food stores. The company plans to expand significantly, aiming to increase the number of outlets to 500. To achieve this goal, the company plans to invest in infrastructure, production technologies and marketing.
Wesola Pani’s product range includes:
- Flour semi-finished products: frozen savory and sweet dumplings, pancakes, dumplings, chebureks.
- Meat products: cutlets, meatballs, cabbage rolls.
- Soups and desserts: traditional Ukrainian dishes prepared according to home recipes.
A special feature of the stores is that the products are made directly at the point of sale in front of customers, which ensures transparency of the process and freshness of the products.
In addition to Poland, the company is actively developing in other countries, including the Netherlands, Lithuania, the United States, and Ukraine, popularizing Ukrainian cuisine and traditions internationally.
Thus, Galya Baluvana under the Wesola Pani brand is successfully integrating into the Polish market, meeting the demand for high-quality and delicious Ukrainian semi-finished products among both the Ukrainian diaspora and the local population.
Why are Ukrainian stores so popular?
- The growing Ukrainian community: The large number of Ukrainians living in Poland creates a stable demand for native products.
- Poles’ interest in Ukrainian cuisine: Poland has always been interested in the cuisine of its neighbors, and Ukrainian dishes are gradually gaining popularity.
- Availability of products: Thanks to Ukrainian stores, people can buy familiar products without having to bring them from Ukraine.
- Working on Sundays and holidays: Many Ukrainian stores are open on days and hours that are familiar to Ukrainians, even when the usual Polish stores are closed. This is an added convenience for Ukrainians, Poles and other people living in Poland.
Ukrainian stores in Poland are becoming not only a place to buy products, but also an important element of cultural connection for Ukrainians abroad. Chains such as Best Market, Slovianochka, and Odesa Market play a key role in providing compatriots with quality products from their homeland. Also, sellers here usually speak Ukrainian and most customers are also Ukrainians, so you can feel at home at least for a moment. Ukrainian stores in Poland also provide opportunities for Poles to get to know the richness of Ukrainian culinary culture.
