The Polish discount retailer Biedronka, known for its low prices, has opened its first store in the Slovak capital. Will it become popular among Ukrainians, especially given its location?
The new supermarket opened on November 5 at 9:00 a.m. at Račianska 69. For the first visitors, the store hosted food tastings and prize giveaways on the “Wheel of Fortune” (Koleso šťastia). The 712-square-meter store has created 20 new jobs. It will be open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The store is located near the capital’s foreign police department. This may be convenient for Ukrainians, who will now find it easier to combine handling paperwork with their daily shopping.
A Strategic Move into the Capital
Although this is the chain’s first store directly in Bratislava, Biedronka began its expansion into Slovakia back in March 2025 with the opening of a supermarket in Miloslavov, near the capital. Entering the Bratislava market is an important step for the company, as it will have to compete here with giants such as Lidl, Kaufland, and Tesco.
Biedronka, owned by the Portuguese group Jerónimo Martins, focuses on low prices, promotions, and a wide range of private-label products. These include, for example, Mliečna Dolina, Cafe d’Or, and Delikate.
Ambitious Plans and Slovak Reality
Initially, the company planned to open 50 stores across Slovakia by the end of 2026. However, according to Slovak media reports, these plans had to be revised. Due to bureaucratic and administrative hurdles, a realistic goal for the end of the year is to open 35 stores.
Despite the slowdown, Biedronka continues to expand its network, targeting not only large cities but also smaller towns. The opening of a store in Bratislava is a key element of this strategy and a serious test for the chain in the highly competitive capital market. The company has already announced that this will not be its last store in the city, although specific locations have not yet been disclosed.
