In Ukraine, one of the leaders in the food retail market is Silpo supermarket chain. Reviews about her are often found on the Internet. Let's see what an impression of famous stores is formed by visitors to trading floors. Let us pay attention to the opinion expressed by Silpo employees about the employer.
About company
The Silpo supermarket chain has been owned by the Fozzy group of companies that has been selling foodstuffs since 1998. The first well-known brand store was opened in Kiev in 2001. The main business owner (51%) is Vladimir Kostelman, part-time poet and rock guitarist Water Repair Group. Co-owners of the company are Oleg Sotnikov, Roman Chigir and Yuri Gnatenko - Kostelman’s classmates, his partners in musical creativity.
As students, friends mastered the shuttle business. For several years, they imported into Russia and sold chocolate bars, chewing gum and other goods, popular in the 90s, from trays. Gradually, a small and at first glance frivolous business transformed into a stable company selling wholesale food products. In 1998, the Fozzy project was launched, within the framework of which Silpo supermarkets began to open.
Currently, over 150 stores of this network operate in Ukraine. Silpo supermarkets offer over 20 thousand items of food, household cleaning products, alcoholic beverages, and goods for children.
Shops, as a rule, cover an area of ​​800 square meters. m and more. In specialized departments, a wide selection of meat, vegetables, fruits is presented. The distribution network has a rich assortment of exotic delicacies such as sugarcane, cactus fruit, shallots, red banana, granadilla, kumquat, carambola.
Silpo supermarkets have their own culinary, sushi workshops, bakeries, and pastry shops.
Shops of this trading network are located most often in the central parts of cities. It is not surprising, therefore, that many residents of Ukraine visit Silpo at lunchtime to buy a salad or a second dish.
In supermarkets there are large departments for goods for children. Here you can buy toys, craft materials, stationery, sweets, cookies, baby wipes at a reasonable cost.
Stores also offer a wide range of picnic accessories. Fans of field trips can easily pick up a compact barbecue, skewers, barbecue grill here.
Since 2008, products manufactured by order of the Fozzy group of companies have been selling in the supermarket chain. It is represented by the following trademarks :
- "Award". More than 1100 varieties of goods are marked with special signs denoting guaranteed product quality. Thus, as reported in the advertisement, the distribution network tries to facilitate the buyer the task of choice and thereby save his time.
- "Full bowl." Includes more than 450 items of the most necessary household goods (sunflower oil, disposable tableware, etc.)
- "Full glass." Champagne and wines of an economical price category.
- Premiya Select. Delicious, usually expensive products, including natural sturgeon and salmon caviar.
- "Green country." The most wholesome fruits and vegetables containing the maximum amount of vitamins.
- Zonk. Apple Cider
- "Riki Tiki Award." The most popular children's products: food, sweets, hygiene products.
As part of the trading network, there are also supermarkets Le Silpo, belonging to a higher price category. They are designed for wealthy buyers. Here you can buy rare varieties of cheese, exotic vegetables and fruits, exclusive alcoholic drinks.
The retail chain publishes its own Fresco recipe magazine. On its pages there are many ideas on what dishes to cook using products from supermarkets.
The Fozzy group of companies is also developing a cafe network under the general name Silpo Resto. These are pretty cozy places where you can eat tasty and inexpensive.
Information on the financial condition of the company "Fozzy"
Despite the fact that Silpo supermarket chain is one of the leaders in the food retail sector, the financial position of the group of companies cannot be called good.
As you know, on July 12, 2016, the court ordered the arrest of all funds in the accounts of the company Fozzy Food LLC, the owner of the stores. The company has overdue loan commitments to PJSC VTB Bank in the amount of 239.1 million hryvnias. Based on the information available to bank analysts, the borrower is quite capable of paying off his obligations, but for unclear reasons he shies away from servicing the debt.
Currently, over 70 million hryvnias have been placed on seized accounts.
Despite the blocking of funds, Fozzy Food LLC continues to work and trade. This is possible, as bank staff commented, only in violation of Ukrainian law.
What is the current financial situation of the group of companies is still not known exactly. It is likely that supermarkets will stop working.
Opinion of customers about service in the distribution network
Most visitors positively characterize the situation at Silpo stores. Reviews of many men and women make it clear that it is pleasant to be in supermarkets.
The trading network owned by Fozzy has several strong competitors, such as Auchan, Buffet, Eco-Market. But this is not a reason for buyers to bypass Silpo stores. Customer reviews contain information about the following merits of the distribution network:
- 24 hour work. This is especially important for men and women working late at night.
- Convenient location of shops. You can always buy groceries on the way home from work.
- The supermarket facilities are bright, spacious and clean.
- Stands with goods stand at a fairly large distance from each other, so that buyers do not interfere with each other.
- The product range is large, everything can be bought in one place.
- The prices are affordable.
- In the sales rooms there are arrow signs to help you find the departments you need.
- The staff is friendly.
- The bonus system allows you to save money.
Among the weaknesses of Silpo, buyers note the following:
- Products should be selected carefully. Among them are spoiled, expired.
- Security guards behave unethically; they look too suspiciously at every customer.
- The meat departments keep an unpleasant odor.
- In the Silpo supermarkets they can weigh.
- The bonus system is very complex. It is not always clear when points are awarded for purchases and how they can be used.
Product Reviews
Regarding the quality of products sold by Silpo supermarkets, customer reviews can be found negative. Many customers of the network report that they have more than once happened to buy spoiled goods at Fozzy stores. This is especially true for meat products. Probably, in this regard, the departments where they sell pork and beef smell unpleasant. On shelves with milk, cheeses, sausages, products are put forward, the shelf life of which expires in one to two days.
Almost every resident of Ukraine knows the “Price collapse” campaign, which is regularly held in the Silpo supermarket chain. Customer reviews make it clear that big discounts are often set for goods that stores want to sell as soon as possible. The promotion is valid for approximately 2 weeks. During this period, prices for vegetables and fruits, which have been on sale for quite some time, also for certain types of meat, fish, and canned food are reduced. Many residents of Ukraine successfully use the “Price collapse” campaign to save money. Among the discounted food products, you can find high-quality, with a long shelf life.
Can the information that comes from Silpo employees be considered reliable? Feedback within the team, which contains information about the low quality of products, is alarming. There is a suspicion that former employees are angry at the employer and throw out negative emotions. They warn buyers that the meat in the shops is stale and processed with spices so that its poor quality is not noticeable. We cannot know for sure whether the “prosecutors” are right. However, following simple rules will help protect yourself from the acquisition of low-quality products:
- Always pay attention to the expiration date printed on the package. If several labels are pasted one after the other, you should be wary: this may mean that they want to hide the actual date of manufacture of the goods.
- Choose products that stand on shelves closer to the wall. As a rule, they are the freshest.
- When purchasing meat or poultry, request that you give it a smell test.
- Do not buy packaged fruits and vegetables: in bags with pictures and color nets, they look very attractive, even when spoiled.
Customer opinion on prices and bonus system
Like most retail chains, Silpo sets the cost of some products slightly lower, and others slightly higher than competitors. The general price level in stores is acceptable for buyers.
In addition, many residents of Ukraine are attracted by the availability of bonus cards. When making a purchase, a certain number of points is credited to the personal account of the client. For subsequent purchases, they can be used to pay for goods.
As some Silpo customers note, understanding the bonus system is not easy. It is unlikely that a store visitor will be able to independently calculate how many points are accumulated in his "piggy bank" and by what algorithm they are considered. In addition, it is not clear at what point you can spend the accumulated bonuses. Most buyers would prefer to have a discount card entitling them to a fixed percentage discount. Some Silpo customers complained that the promised bonuses were not credited. On the hotline in such situations they replied that purchases were not recorded in the database.
Opinion of buyers about stocks that stimulate demand for goods
In Silpo supermarkets, in order to increase consumer demand, various promotions are constantly held: weeks of discounts, draws, lotteries. Among them are many creative and unusual. For example, in Silpo stores in Kharkov, each check from the cash register contains a brief prediction of the future. Many buyers read them with interest.
Also in Kharkov supermarkets after 20-00 discounts are set for culinary products for those who do not like to diet, and who prefer a delicious dinner in the evening. Every Thursday, the Fish Day promotion is held throughout the Silpo network: a discount of up to 20% applies to all products from rivers and seas. In stores you can buy gift certificates in denominations of 100, 200 or 500 hryvnia. This is very convenient for residents of Ukraine who want to make a practical gift to someone they know.
In general, the opinion of customers about Silpo shopping events is positive. But some customers recall unpleasant stories when supermarkets did not comply with the terms of the action.
Many customers respond positively to the work of sellers and cashiers. The feedback states that Silpo employees are friendly and always ready to answer customer questions.
Some residents of Ukraine pay attention that at lunchtime from 12-00 to 12-30 cashiers in stores change shifts and at this time it takes a long time to wait in line at the checkout.
Many customers of the distribution network are indignant at the fact that sellers touch unpacked products (for example, meat) with their hands without gloves.
Often negative emotions evoke the guards of Silpo. Reviews say that security guards almost every visitor with a suspicious look.
Jobs at Silpo. Working conditions
For those seeking to find a decent job, it’s important to read reviews of employers. Silpo regularly publishes many job opportunities for sellers, cashiers and security guards. Most of them involve working both in the daytime and night shift. The average salary of Silpo employees is approximately 800 UAH. per week, which is quite a bit considering the prices of food and housing.
Interestingly, the Fozzy group of companies offers a unique career development program for university graduates. To participate in it, young boys and girls can fill out a form on the official Silpo website. In the case of a successful interview, the candidates are hired and draw up an individual development plan for him at Fozzy. The curator teaches all the tricks of the work of a beginner. After passing the intermediate steps, a university graduate takes the position of head of sector, department or store manager.
Reviews on the nature of work
A true workaholic will probably enjoy working at Silpo. Employee reviews characterize this group of companies as a suitable place to hone a lot of professional skills. Employees of the stores simultaneously serve visitors, place goods on the counter according to a given planogram, clean the trading floor, and ensure that there are no thefts. Even the fairer sex should be prepared to carry heavy boxes of goods, if necessary.
Reviews on the level of pay
For those who want to receive generous remuneration with minimal employment, the most inappropriate employer is the Silpo distribution network. Employee reviews on this topic contain the same information: you won’t be able to earn big money in the Fozzy group of companies. Why? As you know, in 2015 there was a reduction in the state of the company. The number of employees decreased by 20%. The workload of the remaining employees has grown. At the same time, wages were reduced.
In addition, Silpo employees are often fined for minor misconduct. The amount of penalties is up to 500 UAH. Employees of stores actually reimburse all shortcomings of the store from their own pockets. The fines are set for being late, incorrect laying out of goods, mess on trading shelves in Silpo supermarkets. Employee reviews are very negative contain information that store managers sell part of the goods without breaking through checks at the checkout. The obligation to compensate for the shortage is imposed simultaneously on all members of the team.
However, there are also positive reviews about working at Silpo. Employees who have worked on the network for a long time say that they have never been fined for this time.
Some reviewers caution that salp at Silpo is often delayed. Sometimes there is no official registration for a work book.
Young people who are not burdened by family, who are ready if necessary to work the night shift and weekends, are likely to make a good career in the distribution network. Hardworking workers in the system are valued and paid generously enough.
Reviews of attitude towards staff
The attitude towards the staff is not very respectful in the Silpo group of companies. Employee reviews contain information that ordinary employees may be neglected.
In addition, former Silpo employees share information that there are indeed a lot of expired products in supermarkets. Company employees are forced to redeem a considerable part of spoiled food. In the event that they do not agree, they are fined and deprived of bonus payments.
There were also reviews from employees that when hostilities were taking place in cities, managers were not allowed to leave the workplace. Silpo employees had to risk their lives so as not to lose their sole source of income.
Should I get a job at the Silpo sales network in Kiev?
In the city there are about 50 stores owned by the Fozzy group of companies. Residents of Ukraine express a wide variety of reviews about Silpo. Kiev is the city where the control center of the entire chain of stores is located.
It would seem that it is here that service in supermarkets should be very well established. However, there are reviews of residents of Kiev that the Silpo staff behaves impolite towards customers. Many also complain about long lines at the checkout.
South Ukrainian supermarkets "Silpo". Employee Reviews
Zaporozhye is the city with the most stores in the south of the country. Employees note that managers make an uncomfortable shift schedule. Many sellers and cashiers work for a long time without days off. Former employees of the distribution network also often leave negative reviews. Silpo (Zaporozhye) is considered a “difficult” employer.
Store employees feel overloaded with responsibilities. Even supermarket managers are often forced to serve customers at the checkout counter or counter.
Negative reviews about working at Silpo (Zaporozhye) contain complaints about the rude attitude of managers towards subordinates. Ordinary employees believe that store managers are deceiving them by unfairly calculating wages, but they have no opportunity to defend their rights.
Conclusion
Purchasing food for the family is a pleasant and troublesome process. I want to buy all the most delicious, appetizing, fresh. Already strolling through the hall of the supermarket, many housewives imagined how the slices of meat they liked in combination with vegetables and aromatic spices would look like in a pan.
Now you have enough information about Silpo supermarkets. The feedback from employees and customers reflects a lot of both positive and negative points of view. Possessing the information, you will decide on your own whether this trading network is convenient for making household purchases and whether it is worth going to work there.