Residents of Aknīste, Jēkabpils Municipality, can now enjoy the convenience of the brand-new top! store at 17 Augšzemes Street, which opened its doors today, 7 March. This is the third top! store opened within a month to provide a comfortable and modern shopping experience for residents of the regions. An investment of EUR 1.5 million has been made in the store, which will result in the creation of 12 job opportunities. The developer of the project is Firma Madara 89 SIA, one of the largest Latvian companies with 100% local capital and a major shareholder of the store chain top!.
“Mini top! in Aknīste was opened in 2017. Over the years, the infrastructure has grown outdated and the store has become insufficient in size to cater to the demands and desires of contemporary customers. As a result, a strategic decision was made to construct a new, expansive store with a modern design concept. Today is a momentous occasion for us, as well as for the residents of Aknīste and visitors to the town. From now on, we will be able to provide a more spacious retail environment, an expanded selection of products, and great daily price offers. The new top! store will replace the previous mini top! at 1 Dzirnavu Street, to which we will eventually attract tenants,” says Ilze Priedīte, Member of the Management Board and Marketing Director of the store chain top!.
“At the local top! in Aknīste, we will offer a selection of ready-to-eat meals and pastries made on the spot, following recipes, specially crafted by local pastry chefs. Additionally, we bake fresh buns on site. Diversity is crucial, so at our new store, customers will enjoy a variety of options, including local Latvian produce and foreign brands. Our selection includes fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish. We also have our private label of affordable products. Besides, we have daily price offers and promotional offers to provide our customers with great deals. In the near future, parcel lockers from Venipak, DPD, and Latvijas Pasts will be installed near the store,” adds Ilze Priedīte.
The retail space of the store occupies 335 sq m. The ideas of sustainable development and care for the environment are at the core of every new project: the building has been equipped with energy-efficient technology and state-of-the-art LED lighting, both indoors and in the surrounding area. This will help save electricity. The territory of the store is landscaped with an asphalt parking lot and access road. With the arrival of spring, the area will also undergo planting of greenery. There are a total of 23 parking spaces available near the store, which includes a designated space for individuals with special needs and a family parking space. Additionally, there are racks provided for securely parking bicycles. To support local entrepreneurship, the project was built by a local company from Jēkabpils.
“For over 20 years, the top! brand has been dedicated to supporting its Partners with a comprehensive range of services. This includes product category management, marketing services, IT support, and daily workflow support and assistance, ensuring the successful development of local businesses. The past year concluded with positive indicators for Partners of the top! stores. In comparison to the previous year, there was an 11% increase in turnover and a 3% growth in volume. We also proceeded with the store renovation plan, refurbishing a total of 16 stores. This year, top! stores are anticipating a multitude of new additions, also related to development plans for the coming years. We have acquired several new facilities, which means further expansion of the chain,” shares Ilze Priedīte.
About the project developer Firma Madara 89 SIA
Firma Madara 89 SIA is one of the largest Latvian companies, and it is also a partner and co-owner of the store chain top! This company with 100% Latvian capital was founded in 1993 and currently employs almost 1,750 people. The company has successfully expanded and developed throughout its existence, opening 105 top! and mini top! stores, 11 Labais stores, 6 Skapis stores, and 5 Pasēdnīca cafes in various cities and parish centres of Latvia. Additionally, it operates a ready-to-eat food production facility, bakeries, a bowling alley, two shopping centres (IGA Centrs in Aizkraukle and Centrs in Smiltene), and a small wholesale warehouse in Gulbene. The company also ensures the delivery of goods from two logistics centres in Riga and Smiltene.
Firma Madara 89 SIA is the leading retail company in terms of the amount of taxes paid, accounting for over half of all taxes paid by food retailers registered in Vidzeme last year. It is also the largest employer in Vidzeme, with a significant number of loyal and long-standing employees. The company has been on the State Revenue Service’s list of Large Taxpayers for a number of years and has consistently paid taxes in a responsible manner, thereby contributing to the welfare of the nation. The company consistently allocates resources to its development, including the construction of new store buildings, the renovation and upgrading of existing buildings and their equipment. This contributes to the enhancement of the infrastructure of populated areas and the quality of service availability.
About the retail store chain top!
The retail store chain top! is the largest store chain owned by Latvian business and the third largest retail chain in Latvia. There are currently 207 food stores in Latvia operating under the trademark top!, owned by 12 local companies. In total, more than 3,500 jobs are provided, supporting local producers and suppliers across Latvia.
Information prepared by:
Ilze Priedite
Member of the Board and Marketing Director of the top! store chain
E-mail: pr@toppartika.lv