Maxima Grupė has completed the sale of its Stokrotka supermarket business in Poland and T Market in Bulgaria to Paretas BV, a related company within its parent group, Vilniaus Prekyba.
The transaction is part of a wider restructuring process announced by Vilniaus Prekyba in October, aimed at separating the group’s Baltic operations from its activities in other European markets.
The deal involved the transfer of shares in Emperia Holding, which operates the Stokrotka chain in Poland, and Maxima Bulgaria EOOD, which runs the T Market stores in Bulgaria. Both businesses will now be managed under Paretas BV.
Vilniaus Prekyba has said the restructuring will divide the group into two structurally separate and independent parts. One will focus on the Baltic region, while the other will oversee operations outside the Baltics. The full restructuring is expected to be completed during the first half of 2027.
Stokrotka is a major supermarket operator in Poland. In 2024, the chain generated revenue of €1.9 billion and operated a network of 981 stores across the country.
In Bulgaria, T Market reported revenue of €294 million in 2024 and operated 133 stores nationwide.
Following the transaction, Maxima Grupė will continue to manage the Maxima retail chains in the Baltic States. The group will also retain control of the Barbora online grocery platform, as well as Franmax and Maxima International Sourcing.
Why it matters
The sale marks a clear shift in Maxima Grupė’s geographic focus, with the group narrowing its operations to core Baltic markets while separating its Central and Eastern European activities.
For suppliers, the ownership change could have implications for European private label strategies. Chains such as Stokrotka and T Market are heavily active in own-brand ranges, and a move under new management may influence sourcing decisions, supplier relationships, and range development over time.
From a financial perspective, the changes have been reviewed by S&P Global Ratings, which has confirmed Maxima Grupė’s BB+ credit rating with a stable outlook. The agency said the group is expected to retain its market-leading position in the Baltic States.
S&P Global Ratings also forecast that Maxima Grupė’s financial leverage will improve to around 1.9 times following the sale of the Polish and Bulgarian operations.
Maxima Grupė has said it will review its long-term financing structure in early 2026, including a potential return to the bond market, taking into account its revised business portfolio and market conditions.
Editor’s note: Information in this article is based on disclosures published on the Maxima Grupė and Vilniaus Prekyba corporate websites, alongside commentary from S&P Global Ratings.
