Premium products in large-format stores

Master-Zoo has developed into the leading pet supplies chain in the Ukraine in just four years. It belongs to the Suzirya wholesale company and currently operates 33 stores in the 14 biggest cities in the country. “We are the first premium store chain in the Ukraine with a range of quality products from the best suppliers, competent service and uniform style features,” import manager Yulia Voroshylova told PET worldwide. The majority of the stores have retail areas of between 100 and 200 m². They were all opened in the first two years of the chain’s existence. A number of larger stores then appeared, with six stores boasting a retail area of over 300 m². “Besides the extensive range of pet products, these bigger pet shops have a wide range of live animals, birds and fish,” says Yulia Voroshylova. Premium concepts In line with the trend towards large retail areas, the first so-called XL format was eventually opened in 2009 in one of the biggest and most successful shopping centres in the Ukraine. On floor space of around 1 000 m² the company offers a shopping experience that was hitherto unknown in the Ukraine, with an extensive selection of pets that even includes small monkeys – which are prohibited as pets in western European countries for animal welfare reasons. The store also features aquariums, a groom-ing salon and an equestrian department with specially trained staff. “The XL shop was a huge success and in March 2011 the second XL shop was opened in Dnepropetrovsk,” reports Yulia Voroshylova proudly. Further stores of this size are expected to follow in locations with an affluent consumer population. One thing common to all three store concepts of Master-Zoo is unhindered access to all products. The wide range of premium products for all pets, even fish and reptiles, is also regarded as a speciality of the chain. “Much attention in the shops is given to furniture and equipment for the sale of live pets and fish and this was created taking aesthetic and functional requirements into account,” continues Yulia Voroshylova. “Continuous training of sales personnel is undertaken internally as well as with the assistance of partner companies from abroad.” Download: Premium products in large-format stores (PDF file)