Operating retail facilities on generators is two to three times more expensive, depending on the power of the diesel power plant (DPP). Therefore, the company is studying the installation of energy storage and import systems.
As reported by the Interfax-Ukraine agency with reference to the retailer's press service, the operating costs of the ATB network associated with diesel power plants (DES) increased ninefold in June compared to April. As of July 15, 2024, there are 1,228 ATB chain stores operating throughout the country, 1,219 of which are equipped with stationary diesel power plants. The rest, if necessary, work at mobile generating stations, of which the company has 15 units. Therefore, when the power goes out, ATB stores continue to operate, but with restrictions for some equipment. The company notes that refrigeration equipment and freezers do not turn off.
As for the operation of diesel power plants at night, according to the law, from 22:00 to 8:00 there is a noise ban in residential buildings. Maintaining silence is regulated by the law “On Ensuring the Sanitary and Epidemic Welfare of the Population,” which prohibits the use at night, in particular, of sound-reproducing equipment and other sources of household noise, which include diesel power plants. Therefore, to ensure proper overnight storage conditions for certain product groups, perishable products are moved to medium- and low-temperature chambers. Such modern equipment contains a given temperature regime for up to 6-8 hours, which allows you to maintain the freshness of goods even during night power outages.
Our own diesel power plants allow us to work without interruptions, so in the vast majority of ATB stores the assortment remains unchanged, only in a few locations there has been a slight reduction in the assortment. “But this is more due to the fact that one-time customer purchases have become smaller, but more frequent. People stopped stocking up on food at home due to long power outages,” the press service noted.
To ensure maximum preservation of the freshness of goods for such groups of goods as meat, dairy products, chilled fish, cakes, the ATB network operates without a transitional balance in warehouses. At the same time, the company notes that, in total, warehouse complexes have long ago reduced stocks of all groups of goods to the required minimum, regardless of their temperature conditions. This step was a response to the risks of losses due to Russian missile attacks.
As the company noted, the situation with energy shortages is already reflected in the prices of goods for consumers. ATB compensates for the operation of generators from its own income. “We are partially recording an increase in prices for goods from manufacturers, which probably already takes into account the rise in price of the basic cost of energy,” the press service reported.
Based on the results of 2023, the ATB group of companies paid taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels, including customs duties and unified social contributions, for a total amount of UAH 25.06 billion, which is UAH 4.62 billion higher than the 2022 figure.
Reference. ATB Corporation is an association of large Ukrainian enterprises operating in such areas of business as retail trade, asset management, production and sale of food products, provision of services in the field of sports and recreation. The corporation's enterprises employ more than 70,000 people. The corporation's network as of July 15, 2024 includes 1,228 stores compared to 1,316 stores in January 2022. Over the past year, ATB-Market LLC paid taxes and fees totaling UAH 19.45 billion (in 2022 – UAH 15.63 billion); at the end of last year, the network’s turnover amounted to UAH 176.9 billion, which is 2% below the results of 2021 (UAH 179.8 billion).
