Entrepreneurship Support

“The direction of work with farming households actively began in 2016. In 2017, the first meeting with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy took place, as well as communication with the Ukrainian Farmers Association, the Kyiv City State Administration, and regional administrations. At that time, there were also trips to regional centers, communication with local authorities, and meetings with local producers.

A farmer has the most valuable thing – a quality product. Therefore, the task we set for ourselves is to develop small farms, provide them with reliable support, and give them confidence that Auchan Ukraine will be by their side and will certainly sell their products,” said Marta Trush, CEO of Auchan Ukraine.

Thus, holding a forum for farmers became an answer to the requests of producers (especially small-scale ones) regarding how their products could appear on retail shelves. A real-life example: a food producer came to the store and asked, “How can my product be sold here?”

Understanding that the development of small businesses is a priority for our country, the company decided to help producers by building a bridge between all involved parties in the form of the Local Ukraine event.

The main goal of the forum:
● promoting product quality improvement;
● adapting to European standards;
● preparing producers for entering international markets.

Who the forum is for:
● producers of agricultural products and livestock seeking to scale their business;
● farmers who want to learn how to work according to European standards;
● owners of craft enterprises who want to gain experience in building a unique brand.

Why attend the forum:
● understand how to scale your business and cooperate with an international retail network;
● learn how to export your products to EU countries;
● become part of a platform that supports and informs about training, support, and development programs in agribusiness;
● receive clear step-by-step guidance on how to transform your business into an organic one and integrate sustainable development goals into existing processes;
● ask questions directly to representatives of government, business, and other producers;
● conduct initial negotiations and networking already during the forum.

For the third consecutive year, Auchan Ukraine is organizing a forum that brings together all stakeholders for dialogue, exchange of experience, and the search for new opportunities for the development of Ukrainian production.

“Collaborations between large responsible companies are a successful European practice and play a significant role in building an effective chain from producer to consumer,” confirmed Gaël Veyssière, Ambassador of France to Ukraine, who also attended the event, in his speech at the forum in 2024.

Resources involved:
● more than 20 employees from various departments (purchasing, sales, communications, marketing – front and back office), as well as partners;
● 3 months of active preparation for the forum – weekly meetings and project work; quarterly meetings throughout the year, as well as the work of a focus group and management to develop and approve the concept, and continuous support for farmers and producers throughout the year;
● over UAH 2,000,000 allocated for organization.

Results:

2023: Local Ukraine in Kyiv – 85 registered business participants, 60 invited guests and partners, media representatives, and company employees.

2024: Local Ukraine 2.0 in Kyiv – 94 registered farmer participants, 70+ partners, invited guests, media representatives, and company employees.

2025: In response to requests from regional partners and producers, Local Ukraine 3.0 was held in Zhytomyr and Lviv – 100 participants at the events (excluding media representatives and company employees). The next and final event of the current year will take place on November 26 in Kyiv.

Partnerships:
As of today, following the 2023 and 2024 forums, partnerships have been established with 9 new farmers.

It is worth noting that during partnership discussions, the company actively educates small producers on the principles of responsible and transparent business conduct, emphasizing the importance of full tax compliance. We explain that VAT payment is not only a contribution to the state budget, but also a key step toward scaling operations, improving reputation, and gaining access to broader markets and larger clients.

In this way, we support partners in transitioning to a “white” business model, ensuring their sustainable development and transparent cooperation.

As noted by Nadiia Bihun, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, support for Ukrainian production has a direct impact on the economy:
“Ukrainian business demonstrates incredible resilience and an ability to grow. Our domestic market is large, and when we consume more Ukrainian goods, it allows producers to increase sales volumes, create new jobs, pay taxes, and develop the country’s economy.”

Thus, the Local Ukraine Farmers’ Forum has become a vivid example of synergy between different sectors, confirming the importance of joint efforts to achieve economic stability and international recognition of Ukrainian goods.

Yuriy Buchko, Deputy Head of the Lviv Oblast State Administration, noted:
“It is important for us that products from local producers are as close to the consumer as possible. The Local Ukraine Farmers’ Forum in the Lviv region is not just a discussion – it is another opportunity for farmers to expand sales markets, find new partners, and conclude agreements with a large retail network.”