Grupa Chorten
Grupa Chorten is a Polish purchasing consortium and franchise network aggregating over 3,500 independent grocery retailers nationwide, negotiating preferential supplier terms and providing marketing, IT, and loyalty-program support through multiple store brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersŁyski (near Białystok), Poland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Grupa Chorten does
Grupa Chorten Sp. z o.o. is a privately held Polish purchasing consortium and franchise-style network founded in 2009 in Łyski near Białystok. It aggregates over 3,500 independent grocery retailers across all 16 Polish voivodeships, providing them with preferential purchasing terms negotiated with more than 600 producers and distributors, marketing support (weekly flyering, billboards, in-store materials), dedicated store coordinator services, and access to a proprietary partner IT platform and consumer-facing mobile application. The company's revenue is derived primarily from volume-based rebates (retro bonuses) negotiated with suppliers on behalf of partner stores, supplemented by franchise-related fees and marketing services; partner stores retain ownership and operational independence while benefiting from network scale. Operationally, Chorten maintains five regional subsidiaries (Chorten Mazowsze, Chorten Północ, Chorten Radom, Chorten PD, Chorten Południe) covering distinct Polish macro-regions, a technology arm (Chorten IT, established 2023), and acquired networks (Elita Kupców/Limonka in Pomerania, Jack 24). The network operates under multiple store concepts including Chorten (general), Jack 24 (convenience), Sasanka (small format), and Limonka (Pomerania), plus a premium private-label range (Z Podlaskiej Spiżarni).
In February 2026, the network expanded to over 3,500 outlets following the acquisition of the 500-store EURO Polska Sieć Handlowa through Jack 24. A new consumer mobile application launched in March 2026 across an initial 500 stores, offering a loyalty program (1 point per 5 PLN spent, redeemable for 10–100 PLN coupons) and digital promotional offers. The company has been recognized with the Forbes Diamond award (2024 and 2025, >50M PLN revenue category) and the Gazel Biznesu award eight times, alongside regional recognitions including Podlaska Marka Roku 2020 and sports sponsorships (Chorten Arena stadium naming rights since 2024, main sponsor of Jagiellonia Białystok).
Following the death of founder and President Krzysztof Pakuła in November 2024, leadership transitioned to a three-member board (Emil Ciepły, Krystian Pakuła, Cezary Tomczak) while continuing the network's expansion trajectory. The organization maintains a relatively lean 58-employee corporate staff supporting the entire partner ecosystem across departments including commercial sales, IT, marketing, finance, legal, and foundation operations.
Grupa Chorten firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grupa Chorten
- Legal name
- Grupa Chorten Sp. z o.o.
- Website
- https://chorten.com.pl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Grupa Chorten is a Polish purchasing consortium and franchise network aggregating over 3,500 independent grocery retailers nationwide, negotiating preferential supplier terms and providing marketing, IT, and loyalty-program support through multiple store brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grupa Chorten industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Grocery Retail Network
- NAICS
- Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451), General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers (42441)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Supermarkets & Neighborhood Grocers (CRAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community-Owned / Nonprofit Grocery Stores (CRAHALAB)
Keywords
Where Grupa Chorten is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Łyski (near Białystok)
- HQ country
- Poland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Grupa Chorten business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Franchise/partnership fees and volume-based rebates: Grupa Chorten generates revenue through volume-based rebates (retro bonuses) negotiated with producers and distributors, passed on to partner stores. Partners receive preferential purchasing terms, marketing support, and access to the Chorten brand in exchange for network participation. The group acts as a purchasing consortium, aggregating volume across 3,500+ stores.
- Acquisition and integration of retail networks: Grupa Chorten acquired EURO Polska Sieć Handlowa (500+ stores) through its subsidiary Jack 24. The group is pursuing a buy-and-build platform strategy, integrating local purchasing groups under the Chorten umbrella.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Grupa Chorten product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grupa Chorten is a Polish grocery store network/franchise group that aggregates purchasing power across more than 3,500 independent Polish grocery stores. It negotiates volume-based rebates and preferential commercial terms with over 600 producers and distributors, then passes those terms to partner retailers in exchange for participation in the Chorten brand and network. The group provides marketing support (weekly flyers, billboards, digital channels), a proprietary IT platform for partners, and a consumer-facing mobile application with a loyalty program.
Product overview
Grupa Chorten is a Polish grocery store network comprising over 2,444 independent partner stores operating under multiple brand concepts (Chorten, Jack 24, Sasanka) and a premium private label 'Z Podlaskiej Spiżarni'. The platform operates through three integrated layers: (1) a consumer-facing mobile application (Aplikacja Chorten) enabling access to promotions, loyalty programs, and store finder; (2) promotional flyer system (Gazetki) offering weekly deals; (3) a B2B partner IT platform providing store owners with contract management, ordering, and bonus settlement tools. Store formats range from small neighborhood shops (under 80m²) to large supermarkets (up to 1,000m²+), with a charitable foundation supporting health initiatives across the network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Z Podlaskiej Spiżarni: Premium private label brand for Grupa Chorten partner stores featuring regional Podlasie products
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,500 partner stores across Poland (as of February 2026, up from 3,000 in late 2024)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Grupa Chorten
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Grupa Chorten technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Grupa Chorten partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EURO Polska Sieć Handlowa Sp. z o.o.coreGrupa Chorten, through its subsidiary Jack 24, acquired the EURO Polska Sieć Handlowa network of over 500 stores. The stores will be integrated into the Chorten organizational structure and operate under various concepts including Jack 24, Chorten, and Sasanka. This acquisition brought the total store count to over 3,500.
- Grupa Maspex (Dr Witt brand)minorGrupa Chorten partnered with Grupa Maspex for the Dr Witt lottery promotion conducted in Chorten stores, awarding prizes including a 10,000 PLN voucher and bicycles.
- Jagiellonia BiałystokcoreGrupa Chorten is the main sponsor of Jagiellonia Białystok football club playing in PKO BP Ekstraklasa. The group holds naming rights to Chorten Arena stadium in Białystok since 2024 and is also a premium sponsor. The partnership includes logo placement on player jerseys, stadium signage, and sports marketing activities.
- Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej (NFOŚiGW)minorNFOŚiGW provided a subsidy (101,809.99 PLN) for the construction of an EV charging station (120 kW) under the program supporting EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Project value: 226,244.43 PLN.
- Akademia Malucha / Akademia Młodego PiłkarzaminorOrganizational partner for the Skolim Chorten Cup youth football tournament held at Chorten Arena.
- Boxing Production (Dariusz Snarski)minorGrupa Chorten has long supported boxers from the Boxing Production group, whose founder Dariusz Snarski promotes the sport, trains fighters, and organizes boxing galas.
- Żubry Białystok (basketball)minorSince 2021, Grupa Chorten has been the title sponsor of the senior basketball team 'Żubry Chorten Białystok' competing in Poland's second basketball league.
- Kamil Szeremeta (boxing)minorGrupa Chorten supports boxer Kamil Szeremeta.
- Elita Kupców Sp. z o.o. (Limonka network)coreGrupa Chorten signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of Polish Merchants and Entrepreneurs ELITA from Pomerania, which created the Limonka retail network. The partnership involves joint commercial negotiations and mutual support, with Limonka stores using Chorten's technological infrastructure (including the mobile app).
- Podlaski Związek Piłki Nożnej (Podlaskie Football Association)minorGrupa Chorten cooperates with the Podlaskie Football Association, which focuses on developing young football players.
- 600+ producers and distributorscoreGrupa Chorten maintains over 600 commercial contracts with producers and distributors (some sources cite 650), enabling partner stores to access favorable purchasing terms, high retro bonuses, and secure deliveries. This includes national and regional suppliers.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Grupa Chorten competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Intermarché (Les Mousquetaires): International franchise/partnership grocery brand operating in Poland as a chain of independent retailer-affiliated supermarkets. Comparable to Grupa Chorten's franchise aggregation model but at greater scale and with a global brand backing.
- Lidl Polska: Major German discount chain operating 900+ stores in Poland with continued expansion plans. Comparable to Biedronka as a direct competitive threat to Chorten partner stores via aggressive pricing and standardized assortment.
- Carrefour Polska: Major international grocery hypermarket/superstore chain operating in Poland under the Carrefour brand. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same Polish grocery retail category, though serving larger-format shopper occasions than Chorten's neighborhood-focused model.
- Biedronka (Jeronimo Martins): Largest grocery chain in Poland with over 3,500 stores, the dominant discount competitor to Chorten partner stores. Relevant peer for understanding the scale and pricing pressure that Chorten's network must counteract.
- Dino Polska: One of the fastest-growing Polish grocery chains with ~2,500 stores concentrated in smaller localities, directly competing for the same shopper base as Chorten partner stores. Represents the existential competitive threat to traditional independent grocery.
Direct peers
- Lewiatan Holding (Polska Sieć Handlowa Lewiatan): Polish voluntary grocery chain cooperative aggregating independent retailers under a shared brand with centralized purchasing and marketing. The closest direct structural peer to Grupa Chorten in Poland, serving the same independent neighborhood grocery segment.
- Eurocash Group: Polish wholesale distributor and parent of multiple grocery retail networks (abc, Delikatesy Centrum) serving independent retailers. Directly comparable to Grupa Chorten's purchasing consortium role and franchise network model in the Polish traditional trade channel.
- Społem (Krajowy Związek Rewizyjny Spółdzielni Spożywców): National association of Polish consumer grocery cooperatives operating a nationwide network of small grocery stores. Comparable to Chorten as a cooperative-style grocery network serving independent and community-owned stores across Poland.
Regional players
- Stokrotka: Mid-sized Polish grocery chain operating company-owned stores across eastern and central Poland. Comparable to Chorten's geographic and demographic focus on smaller-city and rural grocery retail.
- POLOmarket: Polish grocery chain with strong regional presence in central and western Poland, operating company-owned stores. Comparable to Chorten in targeting independent grocery shoppers in smaller localities, but a corporate chain rather than a partner network.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grupa Chorten social profiles
Digital presenceGrupa Chorten financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grupa Chorten leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Grupa Chorten subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Grupa Chorten funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grupa Chorten M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grupa Chorten
What does Grupa Chorten do?
Grupa Chorten is a Polish grocery store network/franchise group that aggregates purchasing power across more than 3,500 independent Polish grocery stores. It negotiates volume-based rebates and preferential commercial terms with over 600 producers and distributors, then passes those terms to partner retailers in exchange for participation in the Chorten brand and network. The group provides marketing support (weekly flyers, billboards, digital channels), a proprietary IT platform for partners, and a consumer-facing mobile application with a loyalty program.
Is Grupa Chorten a public or private company?
Grupa Chorten is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Grupa Chorten founded?
Grupa Chorten was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Grupa Chorten based?
Grupa Chorten is headquartered in Łyski (near Białystok), Poland, in the Europe region.
How does Grupa Chorten make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Franchise/partnership fees and volume-based rebates are the primary driver. The others are acquisition and integration of retail networks.
Who are Grupa Chorten's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Intermarché (Les Mousquetaires), Lidl Polska, Carrefour Polska, Biedronka (Jeronimo Martins) and Dino Polska. Direct peers are Lewiatan Holding (Polska Sieć Handlowa Lewiatan), Eurocash Group and Społem (Krajowy Związek Rewizyjny Spółdzielni Spożywców). Regional players are Stokrotka and POLOmarket.
Does Grupa Chorten have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grupa Chorten.
What industry is Grupa Chorten in?
Grupa Chorten's product category is Grocery Retail Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAAAB, Independent Supermarkets & Neighborhood Grocers, with a secondary code of CRAHALAB, Community-Owned / Nonprofit Grocery Stores. Its NAICS code is 4451 and its SIC code is 5411.