Epicentr K ( uk, Епіцентр К, Epitsentr K) is a national chain of stores in
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
that specializes in home improvement and gardening. The company is one of the first in Ukraine to introduce a chain of home improvement stores and has successfully expanded across the country over the last decade.
The company was the first in Ukraine to come up with wholesale stores in
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
. Currently Epicentr K is very similar to many stores in the United States such as
Home Depot
The Home Depot, Inc., is an American multinational corporation, multinational home improvement retail corporation that sells tools, construction products, appliances, and services, including fuel and transportation rentals. Home Depot is the l ...
,
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (), often shortened to Lowe's, is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the company operates a chain of retail stores in the United States and Canada. A ...
, or
Menards
Menards is an American home improvement retail company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc. It has 335 stores in 15 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. In 2008, the company became the title sponsor of the
Ukrainian Premier League
The Ukrainian Premier League ( uk, "Українська Прем'єр-ліга", ''Ukrayinska Premier Liha'') or UPL is the highest division of Ukrainian annual football championship. As the Vyshcha Liha ( uk, Вища ліга, ''Top League'') ...
in
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
. As of 2018, the company had plans to bring the total number of stores to 53 nationwide. Despite the economic crisis of 2008–2009 the company continued to expand.
History
The company was established on 6 December 2003 and the first store opened in
Kyiv
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...
on Bratyslavska street. In 2005, two more stores were built in Kyiv.
In 2006, the first three stores were built outside Kyiv:
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
,
Poltava
Poltava (, ; uk, Полтава ) is a city located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the capital city of the Poltava Oblast (province) and of the surrounding Poltava Raion (district) of the oblast. Poltava is administratively ...
, and
Odesa
Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrative ...
. In 2007, eight stores were built nationwide including one in
Kryvyi Rih
Kryvyi Rih ( uk, Криви́й Ріг , lit. "Curved Bend" or "Crooked Horn"), also known as Krivoy Rog (Russian: Кривой Рог) is the largest city in central Ukraine, the 7th most populous city in Ukraine and the 2nd largest by area. Kr ...
. As of 2008, there were 16 stores built with eight more projected. In 2009, the company expanded its offerings to include consumer goods in addition to building materials.
[
On 11 December 2009 the company opened store, the largest of its kind in Ukraine.][
] That store was surpassed by the 2014 opening of a , at 20 Polyarna Street in Kyiv. The store is recognized as "The World's Largest Trading Center of DIY format" by the Book of Records of Ukraine.
In 2019, the agrarian operations of Epicenter K expanded after its owners purchased 1,364 hectares.
Stores
Each store has a big overflow and free parking. In each store you can find also a cafe and a bank. The company offers a possibility of custom design on a wide selection of its products as well as delivery and an express delivery.
Contributions
The company also helps with the construction of the Kyivan Spiritual Academy and participates in a wide variety of sponsorship throughout the country: Gert Goff show commemorated to 750-year anniversary of Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
, jubilee concerts of Pavlo Zibrov and Valentyna Stepova, and many others.
The company carries a collection of awards such as "The Brand of the Year" (2008).
Sport
For some period, the company was a sponsor of the Ukrainian Premier Football League and the Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team ( uk, Збірна України з футболу) represents Ukraine in men's international football and is governed by the Ukrainian Association of Football, the governing body for football in Ukraine. Ukr ...
(Ukrainian Association of Football
The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) ( uk, Українська асоціяція футболу, Ukrayins'ka Asotsiyatsiya Futbolu) is the governing body of football in Ukraine. Before 2019 it was known as the Football Federation of Ukr ...
).
Starting in 2019 the company's sponsorship made possible for one of the Ukrainian provincial football clubs from Dunaivtsi
Dunaivtsi (, , pl, Dunajowce) is a city in Kamianets-Podilskyi Raion, Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province), Ukraine. It is located on the river Ternavka, 22 km away from the railway station Dunaivtsi and 68 km from the Khmelnytskyi. Rein ...
organize into a competitive collective and participate in football competitions at national level ( FC Epitsentr Dunaivtsi).
Destruction of Epicentr K store in Mariupol during Russian mass bombing
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
, the Epicenter K in Mariupol suffered significant damage during a mass bombing on 2 March as part of the Siege of Mariupol
The siege of Mariupol began on 24 February 2022 and lasted until 20 May 2022, as part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It saw fighting between the Russian Armed Forces (alongside the Donetsk People's Militia) and the Ukrainian Armed F ...
.
References
External links
Epicentr K Sports Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Epicentre K
Retail companies of Ukraine
Economy of Kyiv
Ukrainian brands
Industrial supply companies
Ukrainian companies established in 2003
Retail companies established in 2003
Hardware stores
Home improvement companies