As March arrives and spring begins to bloom, the people of Grundzāle are filled with joy as they welcome the opening of the brand-new local top! store at 15 Avotu Street, which opened its doors today, 1 March. This is the second of the three top! stores that we plan to open within a month to provide a comfortable and modern shopping experience for residents of the regions as well. An investment of EUR 1.5 million has been made in the store, which will result in the creation of 11 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!.
“For many years, mini top! was the only store in Grundzāle. During this time, the infrastructure has become outdated, and the range of products that we can offer in mini top! stores has been optimally adapted to the store premises. We are very pleased that we can now offer the residents of Grundzāle a new, modern store where they can not only expect a delightful shopping experience, but also enjoy a more spacious sales area, explore a wider selection of products and take advantage of a great price offer. The new top! store is located just a few hundred metres away from the previous one, ensuring that customers can easily continue their shopping routine and take advantage of the perks offered at the new venue. With the opening of the new store, we will close the mini top! store, to which we will attract tenants,” says Ilze Priedīte, Member of the Management Board and Marketing Director of the store chain top!.
“At our new store, we will be providing residents and guests of Grundzāle with a selection of ready-to-eat meals and pastries made in the local top! by local pastry chefs who follow specially crafted recipes. Realising that rural residents often have to travel to the nearest city for products that are not available in small stores, the new top! store will have a wide range of products available, including those made in Latvia and from other countries, with a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish. Additionally, we will offer our own private label products. Customers can also expect daily special prices and promotional offers to take advantage of,” points out Ilze Priedīte.
The retail space will occupy the largest portion of the store, which is 330 sq m, out of a total area of 630 sq m that includes the building. For the purposes of sustainable development and care for the environment, the new building has been equipped with energy-efficient technology and state-of-the-art LED lighting, both indoors and in the surrounding area. This will contribute to energy savings by allowing for a 100% adjustment. The territory of the store is landscaped with an asphalt parking lot and access road, which generally helps to enhance the infrastructure of Grundzāle. With the arrival of spring, the area will also undergo planting of greenery. There are a total of 27 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 Valmiera, while the visual materials have been sourced from a local company in Smiltene.
“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 1,786 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. Goods are delivered to the stores from three logistics centres in Dreiliņi, Mārupe and Smiltene.
Information prepared by:
Ilze Priedite
Member of the Board and Marketing Director of the top! store chain
E-mail: pr@toppartika.lv