Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Kyiv, July 24 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Dnipropetrovsk-based Allo chain plans by the end of 2009 to open around 12 stores in Ukraine, expanding its chain to around 300 stores, the operation director of the Allo Group, Maksym Raskin, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"At present, we have 228 stores. We plan by the end of this year to bring their number to around 300. However, this will depend on the situation on the market and the dollar exchange rate," he said, not disclosing the locations and investment planned for the development of the chain.

Raskin said that since the start of 2009, the company shut around 60 stores, and the major part of them was in Q1, 2009. The key reason for the shutting down the stores is high rent rates and the refusal of the premises owners to cut them. In addition, some of the stores were unprofitable.

Raskin said that by the end of this year the company does not plan to close any of its stores. However, he does not rule out the movement of some outlets to better locations.

He said that the company also plans to eventually move all of its stores to better locations.

Asked whether the company still has plans to acquire a small local chain, Raskin said that the company is always ready to join a local or Kyiv player.

"We are in talks at the initial stage with some market players," he said.

Allo Ltd. was set up in August 1998. The company sells mobile phones and accessories.