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Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, about 7,000 restaurants and cafes have closed in Ukraine and more than 2,000 new establishments have opened. Olha Nasonova, a co-founder of the National Restaurant Association of Ukraine, reported this to the «Interfax-Ukraine» agency.
«There are no exact statistics, as they simply aren’t carried out at the moment. Among these 7 thousand are establishments that have closed and those for which no data was provided (in the occupied territories or in the shelling zones). The market has decreased by approximately 25% compared to February 2022. In some regions, the drop in the market amounted to more than 50% (Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhya, Luhansk regions). In Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk regions – a drop down up to 30%,» – Nasonova said.
Read also: Here are restaurants that relocated to Lviv because of the war
At the same time, according to the Restaurant Association’s co-founder, western regions show positive dynamics. In Lviv and the region, the number of restaurants and cafes increased by approximately 30%. In Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, an increase of approximately 20% is observed.
«Until the beginning of summer, the decline in the market was more significant. However, since June, restaurants began to open in Kyiv, as well as in the western regions, a total of more than 2,000 establishments. The restaurant market in Lviv developed most intensively: more than 500 new establishments in the region since the beginning of the war. Of all cities in Western Ukraine, Lviv turned out to be the most cosmopolitan and the most crowded,» – Olha Nasonova added.
According to her, among the summer openings in Lviv were establishments of «hyped» networks: Bao Casual (owner Taras Seredyuk), «Ostannya Barykada» (Dmytro Borysov), a number of franchise establishments. At the same time, the expert noted that it’s incorrect to talk about the relocation of restaurants in all cases.
«Actually, there are a few of those who really moved, that is, moved equipment, furniture, etc. More often, the restaurant turned out to be simply destroyed, or in the occupied territory, and there was nothing to take out. That’s why new restaurants were opened,» – Nasonova explained.
In her opinion, restaurant investors began to consider cities in Western Ukraine as more profitable for starting a new business. As for expansion abroad, there are still few such examples. «The openings of «Chornomorka» [restaurant], Borysov and Sukhomlin establishments are planned. The countries – Poland and Germany, but rather Poland. There are more Ukrainians there, and the mentality of Poles is closer to ours,» – the expert said.
For reference
Created in 2021, the National Restaurant Association of Ukraine (NRAU) unites more than 50 participants, 450 restaurants and cafes as of May 2022.
Translated by Vitalii Holich
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