Main points
- About 1,100 Ukrainians manage Żabka stores in Poland, which accounts for more than 10% of the total number of stores.
- Most Ukrainian entrepreneurs at Żabka have business experience in Ukraine, and the franchise attracts them with the company's support and stable demand.
Ukrainians control 1,100 stores of the famous chain / Żabka
Ukrainians in Poland are increasingly leading Polish businesses. For example, approximately 1,100 refugees already manage grocery stores of the popular Żabka chain.
Why do Ukrainians mostly manage Żabka stores in Poland?
In just one year, almost 600 Ukrainian franchisees took up management positions in the chain, OBOZ writes.
In fact, this means that every tenth store of this chain in Poland is managed by a Ukrainian. Ukrainians have already become the second largest group of partners in this chain after the Poles themselves. And this is no coincidence – they are actively entering the business and gradually occupying their niche in the Polish economy.
The chain itself is also growing: by the end of 2025, it had over 12,000 stores, and it opens thousands of new outlets every year. Many of them operate under franchises.
Most of these entrepreneurs are not newcomers who have just arrived, but people who have been living in Poland for a long time:
- 44% have lived in the country for 7 to 10 years;
- 32% – from 4 to 6 years;
- only about 15% have been in Poland for less than three years.
Often they had business experience in Ukraine – they managed stores or worked in trade. Therefore, the franchise became a logical continuation for them. Żabka franchise attracts entrepreneurs with several factors:
- no need to start from scratch;
- there is support from the company;
- clear work model;
- stable demand – the “store near home” format is always relevant.
By the way, in 2025 alone, Ukrainians opened about 33,000 companies in Poland. This is approximately 10% of all new businesses in the country.
How do Ukrainians influence the GDP of Poland and other European countries?
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 .
According to expert Vasyl Voskoboynyk, the presence of Ukrainians in the EU has a tangible economic effect, as 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 for 2024 demonstrate the contribution of Ukrainians to the economies of these states:
- in Poland's GDP – 2.7%;
- Czech Republic – 2.2 – 2.3% of GDP;
- Germany – about 0.6 – 0.7% of GDP.
What do you need to know about employment in Poland?
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Poland has prepared a draft resolution to simplify the employment of foreigners in scarce professions, such as engineers, doctors, nurses, programmers and drivers. At the end of 2025, about 1.29 million foreigners were legally working in Poland, of which 857 thousand were citizens of Ukraine.
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Ukrainians working in Poland must file declarations for work assignment. This innovation will come into effect from March 2026. Illegal work assignment can result in fines of PLN 3,000 to PLN 50,000 per employee and a ban on the company hiring foreigners.
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From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Poland increased to PLN 4,806 gross, which is approximately PLN 3,600 net.
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A salary increase may have a positive impact on Ukrainians, but the high cost of living in Poland may reduce the real benefit.