The largest Ukrainian coffee chain, Aroma Kava, has officially expanded its international presence by opening a new café in Warsaw, reported Forbes Ukraina.
"The development of the network in Poland will occur through a franchising model. The first franchise partners are Ukrainians who have been living in Poland for a considerable time," said Aroma Kava co-investor Gennady Haidabura to the publication.
Aroma Kava offers several formats for its establishments. The smallest ones occupy only 6-9 square meters, while larger cafés are located in spaces up to 150 square meters.
The first Aroma Kava in Poland commenced operations at 136 Marszałkowska Street, in a location previously occupied by a Subway restaurant. Nearby the café, there is a Carrefour supermarket and a Millennium bank branch.
The establishment in Warsaw represents one of the largest formats within the network. According to Aroma Kava representatives, the costs for opening a café in Poland are 30-40% higher than the investments in establishments in Ukraine.
The café in Warsaw is not Aroma Kava's first attempt to enter the international market. In 2020, the chain opened a franchised establishment in downtown Minsk, but it ceased operations with the onset of the full-scale war.
The company made a second attempt at international expansion in January 2023. A franchised café began operations in the student district of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
According to information on the chain's website, Aroma Kava was registered in 2013 and has over 350 cafés in 45 cities across Ukraine. The chain's baristas prepare more than 1 million cups of coffee each month.