The leading developer of shopping complexes in Ukraine, Arricano, will replace Auchan Ukraine with a new grocery operator in Zaporizhia and Kryvy Rih in 2024 due to the termination of the lease agreement, the company’s press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

“The Sun Gallery (Soniachna Halereya) shopping mall and the CITY MALL shopping mall are expecting positive changes in 2024, which our visitors have been asking for. This is a multi-year complex work, the result of which our clients will be able to evaluate as early as next year,” Arricano CEO Anna Chubotina said about the changes.

As reported, at the end of 2021, Arricano, meeting the wishes of clients of the Sonichna Halereya shopping mall and CITY MALL shopping mall, decided to change the tenant mix of shopping centers in accordance with the economic situation, market development trends and the needs and priorities of consumers. It is noted that, first of all, it was planned to replace the Auchan Ukraine hypermarket in both shopping and entertainment centers. Because of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Auchan Ukraine and Arricano agreed to extend the lease to provide residents with access to food and essential goods. However, now, realizing that customers are waiting for changes, Arricano has decided to implement its earlier decision.

Due to the end of the lease agreement from April 2024, Auchan Ukraine will close stores in the cities of Zaporizhia and Kryvy Rih and provide employees with jobs in the cities where Auchan operates in Ukraine.

Auchan Ukraine reported that the hypermarket in Kryvy Rih has been temporarily closed since January 8, when the building was damaged during a missile attack. The company added that Auchan Ukraine adheres to the recommendations of the law and always closes all its stores during air raids. During the mass shelling of Kryvy Rih, all Auchan employees were in shelter and no one was injured.