A small chain of stores has been operating in Ukraine for more than six months Groundhog in the convenience store format.
What is known so far? In early 2025, the first two convenience stores of a new chain called Babak opened in Lviv. This animal is the "main character" in communication with consumers.
According to the Polish newspaper Wiadomości Handlowe, this is only the initial stage of building a chain that will have at least 100 stores.
The ownership structure of Babak Ukraine LLC, established in October 2024, includes the Polish Babak Poland LLC (25%) and the Ukrainian venture capital fund Energo-Hub (75%) from Ivano-Frankivsk. The ultimate beneficiaries are Jędrzej Solnicki (Poland) and Andriy Panas, Vasyl Novak and Roman Paskovych (Ukraine).
The Babak chain of stores is positioned as a modern convenience store with a large selection of to-go products and in-house bakery.
The format of the chain is already being compared to the Polish Żabka, as it is a Pole, Jędrzej Solnicki, who has experience of supporting Lidl's expansion in Poland and working for the largest Polish retailers Biedronka and Żabka.
"Babak, which is still at the pilot stage of development, looks like a typical convenience store, both in terms of the size of its retail space and product range. It offers a wide range of snacks and drinks, ready-to-eat meals, takeaways and small portion products. The shelves are stocked not only with Ukrainian products and a typical "international" assortment (from Coca-Cola and beer from large corporations to Lion bars), but also with goods from several Polish manufacturers (for example, Sante products).
Babak stores also have a food court. Customers are offered dishes such as hot dogs, burgers, fries, bowls (for example, with shrimp and noodles), pita bread, donuts and slushies. And, of course, coffee.
Babak's convenience store format will compete for customers not only with Simi but also with such chains as About , Glove Chain of Stores , SPAR, Faino Market and KOLO stores . Convenience stores are also available at petrol stations OKKO, UPG and WOG .
