Which grocery chains have appeared and disappeared in Belarus in recent years? There are quite a few.

Photo: hitdiscount.by

What's up with "Hit!"?

Recently, it was noticed on the social network Threads that some stores of the "Hit!" chain (developed by the "Eurotorg" company) have started closing. For example, in Minsk and Dzyarzhynsk, according to eyewitnesses, a "Hit!" store became a "Evroopt" store. And these are reportedly not isolated examples.

The "Onliner" publication was informed by the chain that some stores under this brand are indeed being closed and gradually converted to other formats, including "Evroopt". Thus, over the past three years, as many as 140 stores have changed their format this way. However, more than 200 "Hit!" stores are still operating, and although some may still change their signs, not all "Hit!" stores will be closed. But no new ones will be opened either.

In general, store chains compete for customers and are constantly transforming. Some grow, some shrink. Some close, new ones take their place. Some manage to grow quickly and become large chains, others remain micro-chains with just a few stores. Some stores, however, remain proud independents.

This article discusses new signs that have appeared in Belarus recently, as well as old ones that have left or limited the market.

New Openings

"UNISTORE wholesale&retail"

The chain is developed by the "UniStore Group" company, which also manages the "Vozhyk" and "Sem Pyatnits" store chains. The first Minsk store opened in May 2021; more precisely, administratively it is located outside the capital, in the area of Baravaya village in Baravlyany сельсавет, at the exit from Minsk on the Lahoisk tract.

Павялічыць

Currently, the chain has 8 stores: one each in Brest, Vitsebsk, Homiel, Hrodna, Salihorsk. Also, formally there is only one store in Minsk (in Kamennaya Horka) and two more near Minsk: the aforementioned one in Baravaya and in Syenitsa сельсавет, right outside the Minsk Ring Road in the "Syenitsa" shopping center (and the map marker on the company's website is misplaced).

"Smart Choice"

The "Smart Choice" chain was launched by the "Libretik" company — the same one that develops the "Susedi" chain. The first two stores opened in Baranavichy in January 2022.

Павялічыць

Currently, the chain has 26 stores in 13 cities across the country (mostly in district centers). Of these, only 3 points are in Minsk (and one more in Yubileyny village beyond Syenitsa). The chain positions itself as a new format for daily shopping: everything essential, nearby, and at low prices.

"Belka"

The "Belka" store opened in the capital's Loshytsa in early 2022 — LLC "100retail" launched a point on Uladzislava Syrakomli Street. Since then, that store has closed, but now three more operate in Minsk: two on Dziarzhynski Avenue and one on Tsіmirazyeva Street.

Павялічыць

The store has no website, just another small chain. It resembles the "Zyalony Klyon" chain, one of whose stores, by the way, is also in Loshytsa (but it is managed by a different company).

"Kvasouski"

You probably haven't heard of this chain, although you might have heard of the company behind it. At least, if you live in Hrodna Region. In Kvasouka village near Hrodna, the famous production cooperative named after Vitaly Kramko operates, which grew out of the "Kastrychnik" kolkhoz and traces its history back to 1949. The kolkhoz, and later the cooperative, have repeatedly received state awards.

Павялічыць

The enterprise sells its products, among other ways, through its own "Kvasouski" chain. In total, it has 5 stores: four in Hrodna and the surrounding district, and one in Minsk — look for it in the Bryliavichy microdistrict. The capital's store opened in December 2022.

"Sputnik"

"Sputnik" stores (with almost the same logo as the closed Russian search engine of the same name) appeared in September 2023: this is how the hypermarkets of the "Svetofor" hyper-discounter were renamed. At the time, customers were promised that prices in both chains would be the same.

Павялічыць

The store list page on the new chain's website is broken, and search engines show that there is only one "Sputnik" in Minsk — on Karzhanewski Street — plus another one just outside the Minsk Ring Road, in the DiaMond City shopping center. "Sputniks" were also found in regional centers (except Brest), Babruysk, Barysaŭ, Zhlobin, Lida, Mazyr, and Orsha — 12 points in total.

"Vyhada"

The "Vyhada!" discounter is a creation of CJSC "Unifood," which develops the "Almi" chain; this is precisely what the discount program in that chain is called. So, the first "Vyhada!" store opened in February 2024 in Hrodna (Hrodna again!) with banners reading "Low prices! Every purchase with a benefit!"

Павялічыць

Then, more than two years ago, the media reported that "Vyhada!" would become a new chain, to which some "Almi" stores might transition. The fact that a chain is still planned is also indicated by the "Store Addresses" header on the new website. However, the address has remained a single one to this day.

Павялічыць

"Locally Known"

The "Locally Known" chain was launched by the "Greenretail" company — the same one that manages the Green chain of super- and hypermarkets. According to the chain's website, "Locally Known" is a brand of healthy food; all products are natural, grown in ecologically clean areas both in Belarus and beyond its borders.

Павялічыць

The first five stores opened in Minsk on June 21, 2024, but a separate website for the new chain could not be found (or at least a list of stores on the Green website). Yandex.Maps show that the chain currently has 4 stores: three at old addresses and one new one. However, two other locations at old addresses, in Hrushauka and Uruchcha, have been closed since January 2025.

"Znayomy"

"Znayomy" is a chain launched by the Barysaŭ Bread Products Plant. The first store opened a little over a year ago, in January 2025, in Barysaŭ. However, as of June 2026, this one store remains in the chain. Why is it then referred to as a chain? Because the bread plant itself stated: "UE "Barysaŭ Bread Products Plant" proudly announces the opening of a new retail chain "Znayomy". The first store will open tomorrow..."

Павялічыць

In general, the plant already has at least two of its own chains: "Uladar" and "Turetski Kumpyachok", as well as individual stores "Melnik", "Kalasok", "Miasny Dom", "Pyatachok", "Miasko", "Lahoychanka". Don't be surprised by meat stores in a "bread" chain, because the Barysaŭ Meat Processing Plant is a branch of the bread plant. And with such complex subordination and numerous brands, it seems that there simply aren't enough resources left for the development of "Znayomy".

And which chains have closed?

"ProviantЪ"

The "ProviantЪ" store chain (precisely in this spelling) by LLC "ProviantGroup" was not small for Minsk: by autumn 2021, there were 35 of its stores in the capital, plus 7 locations in Baranavichy and one store in Niasvizh.

Павялічыць

At various times, the "ProviantЪ" chain included "Savyetski" stores (in Baranavichy) and "Azarenne". But already in 2022, the chain simply closed. Part of its stores were bought out by the "Libretik" company (which owns the "Susedi" chain). The reason for the closure of the "ProviantЪ" chain is cited as bankruptcy.

Spar

Spar is a large Dutch chain of stores with a 90-year history. Currently, over 13,800 stores operate worldwide in 48 countries. The name, by the way, translates to "fir tree" — its stylized image is on the company's logo.

Павялічыць

In Minsk, the first store of the chain opened in August 2017 on Partyzanski Avenue, 40. The franchise was managed by "Unifood" company, which also developed the "Almi" and Zakrama chains. Company representatives said they planned to open 60 stores in various cities of Belarus by 2020. However, in the end, there were 10 times fewer stores across the country: three in Minsk and one each in Brest, Hrodna, Babruysk, Pinsk, Kobryn, and Mazyr. Moreover, some of them were named Eurospar and Interspar. And in April 2024, the last capital store of this chain also closed (they were gradually transferred to the "Almi" chain). To Blizko.by's knowledge, this is the largest global store chain that operated in Belarus.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0