Revolutionizing Retail: The Visionary Path of Serhii Perekrest
How Serhii Perekrest is engineering a new era of supermarket innovation through systems thinking, cross-cultural leadership, and purpose-driven retail strategy
How a systems-driven leader is transforming supermarket operations across borders with innovation, empathy, and scalable strategy
In a retail landscape rapidly shifting under the weight of digital transformation, evolving consumer behavior, and economic uncertainty, few names resonate with innovation and resilience like Serhii Perekrest. A dynamic force in modern supermarket management, Perekrest brings over a decade of operational leadership experience, drawing from his journey in both Eastern Europe and the United States to revolutionize how retail works—from the ground up.
From Store Floor to National Impact
Serhii Perekrest began his career humbly in 2013 as an assistant store manager at Ukraine’s popular Silpo chain. Even then, his aptitude for systems thinking and workflow optimization set him apart. By 2019, he had ascended to the role of Chief Operating Officer at Thrash!, part of Ukraine’s Fozzy Group, overseeing a rapid expansion from a few stores to 94 nationwide locations.
His leadership came during one of Ukraine’s most tumultuous periods, marked by economic challenges and geopolitical conflict. Yet Perekrest thrived, turning adversity into opportunity by deploying AI-powered loss prevention, forming mobile operational teams, and integrating modern supermarket practices with Odessa’s traditional outdoor markets. One of his hallmark innovations—the zero-waste bakery forecasting system—reduced product loss while boosting customer satisfaction.
Leading with Data and Empathy
What distinguishes Perekrest is his hybrid leadership style: firmly analytical, yet deeply human. While he’s fluent in KPIs and shrinkage rates, he also prioritizes team cohesion, psychological insight, and employee empowerment. This unique blend earned him the title of “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Ukrainian Business Award in 2023.
His solutions—such as detailed onboarding checklists and dynamic incentive programs—aren’t just theoretical. They’re battle-tested systems designed for scalability without sacrificing quality.
Scaling Success Across Borders
In 2023, Perekrest relocated to Florida, USA, to become Chief Retail Officer at Mars Supermarkets (Euroland), a niche chain catering to lovers of European groceries. His move wasn’t merely geographic—it was strategic. Bringing his proven methodologies to a new market, he localized initiatives like salad bars, hot food counters, and department-level profit tracking, leading to measurable increases in performance, profit, and customer satisfaction.
Through his consulting work, Perekrest also helped Kolos USA, a hybrid food retail startup, streamline operations and establish a foothold in Florida’s competitive market. His scalable blueprint has enabled Kolos to blend European deli-style charm with American expectations.
Educator, Humanitarian, Thought Leader
Beyond his executive duties, Serhii Perekrest has emerged as a thought leader and educator. From guest lectures at universities to serving as a scientific reviewer for academic journals on retail management, his contributions span theory and practice. He’s published works on dynamic KPI modeling, employee motivation, and scaling retail businesses.
His impact extends beyond commerce. During the war in Ukraine, Perekrest coordinated civilian supply chains that supported humanitarian organizations and National Guard brigades, leveraging his retail logistics expertise for the public good—a feat that earned him formal recognition.
Looking Ahead
Perekrest’s mission isn’t finished. He aims to launch training programs for future retail leaders, deepen his consulting reach, and continue innovating retail experiences in multicultural communities. His belief is simple yet powerful:
“A strong retail leader builds systems where people and performance grow together. My goal is to simplify complexity.”
In a time when retail is undergoing seismic shifts—from digital disruption to labor market evolution—Serhii Perekrest is not just responding to change; he is defining it. His journey is a masterclass in how vision, resilience, and human-centered systems can transform an entire industry.
