Main points
- The Chornomorka chain plans to open 17 new restaurants in Europe in 2026, including in Poland.
- The company acquired a farm in Croatia to grow mussels, sea bass and dorado, as part of its strategy to develop its own production.
Ukrainian seafood chain to open 17 restaurants in Europe / Collage of Channel 24, photo “Chornomorka”
The seafood restaurant chain “Chornomorka” was able to increase revenue by 27% in 2025 – despite the fact that the establishments lost almost half of their guests during the winter due to blackouts. The company is now opening dozens of restaurants in Europe and investing in its own production.
What are Chornomorka's plans for opening restaurants in Europe?
“Chornomorka” grew by 27% despite the blackouts. This was stated by the company's co-owner Olga Kopylova, writes UCSC.
As of April this year, we have 51 restaurants in our chain, 35 of them in Ukraine. Revenues have increased by 27%. But we have survived an extremely difficult winter. We managed to get out, although it was very difficult,
– she noted.
According to Kopylova, the key factor in growth was the opening of new outlets: over the year, the chain launched 11 restaurants: five in Ukraine (Kyiv, Bila Tserkva, Lutsk) and another six abroad, in particular in Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Moldova.
The company also took a strategic step towards its own production, acquiring a farm in Croatia. It already supplies products to the chain's European establishments.
The farm should produce about 25 tons of mussels in 2025, but plans are to increase the volume to 300 tons per year. In addition, there are plans to open a restaurant near the farm with tastings and excursions to turn the production into a separate gastronomic direction.
What does this mean?
- Business diversifies risks (Ukraine + Europe)
- Retail and HoReCa are increasingly engaging in their own production
- Power outages change customer behavior
In 2026, Chornomorka plans to expand significantly – opening approximately 17 new establishments in Poland and other European countries.
Overall, we plan to grow sales by 20% this year. We also need to prepare for 2027, when we plan to grow our business by 70%,
– added Kopylova.
So, “Chornomorka” shows a classic example of business adaptation: instead of reduction, expansion, instead of dependence, control over supply.
What is known about the “Chornomorki” farm?
This year, Chornomorka launched a farm for growing mussels, sea bass, and dorado abroad. This is a new step in the development of the marine economy, writes Posteat.
Now we have our own mussels, sea bass and dorado. We are learning to grow them together with a Croatian team on a farm near Ston – in the clean Adriatic Sea. For us it is about quality, trust and an honest path of the product – from sea to table,
— write company representatives.
It is known that the farm was created in collaboration with a Croatian team with experience in marine aquaculture. The launch of the project is part of the strategy to develop its own production and ensure stable supplies of seafood for the restaurant segment. Cultivation takes place in the natural marine conditions of the Adriatic.
The project involves constant monitoring of water quality, conditions of detention, and compliance with European food safety standards.
How do Ukrainian business and refugees affect Europe's GDP?
Ukrainians abroad are economically active members of society, who are mostly integrated into local economies. The influx of population allows European countries to solve the problems of labor shortages and aging nations. This was stated by labor market expert Vasyl Voskoboynyk in a commentary for Channel 24 .
Due to the war , 5-7 million Ukrainians left for the EU countries. Most settled in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, where, together with migrants from previous years, Ukrainians are integrating into local labor markets, filling budgets and pension funds. According to expert Vasyl Voskoboynyk, the presence of Ukrainians in the EU has a tangible economic effect, because among them are employed:
- in Poland – 900 thousand Ukrainians;
- in Germany – 295 thousand;
- in the Czech Republic – about 390 thousand.
Vasyl Voskoboynyk
Head of the Migration Policy Office, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies
Ukrainians are not a burden for Europe. This is an asset for which Europeans are ready to compete. We find ourselves in a unique situation where Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany are competing for Ukrainians abroad. On the one hand, this is a pleasant surprise, and on the other, it makes us understand that our country is facing a very significant challenge.
The following figures show the contribution of Ukrainians to the economies of these states as of 2024: in Poland's GDP – 2.7%; in the Czech Republic – 2.2 – 2.3% of GDP; in Germany – about 0.6 – 0.7% of GDP.
Regarding the latter, the expert notes that the contribution of Ukrainians to the welfare of Germany is also significant, despite the seemingly lower percentage, because its economy is the largest in Europe.
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