Ukrainian retailer Fozzy Group has posted a 18.2% increase in consolidated turnover in full-year 2019, to UAH 78.163 billion (€2.63 billion), excluding VAT.
The group, which operates the Silpo brand as well as a number of other retail and foodservice businesses, said that it has more than doubled its turnover in the past five years.
Store Openings
During 2019, Fozzy Group opened 71 new stores, including 23 Silpo outlets, 17 Fora stores and three Thrash! discount stores.
As of the end of 2019, the number of stores in the group totalled 695, it said.
Five Silpo stores were also renovated to receive a thematic design.
In November of last year, the banner opened its largest designer store, in Kyiv BlockBuster Mall, featuring a theme based around the local folk tale of Mavka. In addition, it has rolled out a number of new gastronomic concepts, developed by brand chef Marco Cervetti, including a Food Hall at its River Mall outlet, a French café (Le P'tit Bistro) in Dnipro, and a Neapolitan-style pizzeria in Stoyanka.
Read more: Once Upon A Time… Why Silpo Is One Of Europe's Most Creative Retailers
Digital Transformation
The group has increased its investment in digitalisation, with the rollout of a number of new technologies across its network, it said.
As of February this year, the number of unique users of its Silpo mobile application has risen to one million, with users able to avail of loyalty promotions and payment services.
It has also rolled out self-service cash registers across its network, noting that 27% of transactions now take place through self checkouts.
Elsewhere, its wholesale operation, Fozzy Cash & Carry, expanded its online ordering capabilities and Fozzy Drive click and collect service.
Finally, the business implemented a number of energy saving projects across its operations, including the rollout of LED lighting and heat recovery systems, as well as announcing the opening of its eighth recycling station across Ukraine.
Announcing its results, Fozzy Group said that it paid UAH 3.85 billion in taxes and fees in 2019, a 32.8% increase on the previous year.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
