Ukrainian frozen convenience food chain Multi Cook has entered the Italian market, the company’s press service announced.
“It’s official: a new country has been added to our brand’s global map! We are incredibly proud of our Ukrainians, our resilient partners and the strength of our spirit, which knows no borders. Every new opening proves that inspiration, hard work and belief in what you do can overcome any challenge,” the company said on Facebook.
Multi Cook’s first Italian store has opened at Via Modena 18 in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan.
According to research by Poster POS, Multi Cook topped the ranking for new restaurant locations opened in 2025, adding 150 locations in Ukraine and another 40 abroad.
“Today, Multi Cook is actively expanding around the world. We already have around 270 stores abroad. They are located across Europe, as well as in Turkey, Montenegro, Georgia, Cyprus, the United States and Canada. It is very important to me that Ukrainians abroad are the ones developing this brand. For many of our compatriots, Multi Cook is not just a business. It is an opportunity to represent Ukraine internationally, promote our traditions and demonstrate that Ukrainian business can be modern, strong and competitive globally,” said Multi Cook co-founder Volodymyr Matviichuk.
Multi Cook is a Ukrainian chain of specialised stores selling frozen convenience foods. It was created by Matviichuk, one of the founders of the Halia Baluvana chain, and has been expanding through a franchise model since 2022.
Halia Baluvana was founded in Lutsk in 2018. From 2022, its co-owners focused on international expansion: Matviichuk under the Multi Cook brand, while Alla and Oleksandr Teliha developed the Wesoła Pani brand.
In 2025, Matviichuk announced his departure from the Halia Baluvana brand and said he would focus on developing his own brands: Multi Cook, GABAR and MultiBar.
Multi Cook currently operates more than 270 stores across Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and other markets. Some locations operate as fast-casual outlets under the MultiBar brand, combining retail sales with ready-to-eat meals.
