Few people in the contemporary retail industry more exemplify the spirit of change than Serhii Perekrest. With more than ten years of operational leadership experience, including executive positions in the US and Ukraine, Perekrest has emerged as a trailblazing designer of scalable retail systems, introducing industry-first strategies for customer experience, loss prevention, and supermarket management.
Perekrest’s career started in 2013 as an assistant store manager for the well-known “Silpo” chain on the floor of a supermarket in Ukraine. His systems-thinking methodology was what made him unique. He was analyzing inefficiencies and suggesting methods to improve workflows even in his early positions. He rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Thrash! supermarket chain under the Fozzy Group in 2019, overseeing the company’s growth from a small number of stores to 94 locations nationwide.
During his time at Thrash!, Ukraine went through some of its most turbulent years. With discipline and foresight, Perekrest managed the supermarket chain through a period of economic instability and a full-scale conflict. As evidenced by the successful integration with Odessa’s traditional outdoor markets, he promoted cooperation over rivalry, established mobile operational teams, and implemented AI-based loss prevention systems.
The creation of a zero-waste bakery forecasting system, which reduced product loss and increased customer satisfaction, is among Perekrest’s most well-known accomplishments. In order to enable quick scalability without compromising quality, he also developed thorough checklists and KPI-driven onboarding programs for store openings.
Despite being firmly rooted in people, his leadership style is extremely analytical. He places just as much emphasis on psychological insight, team cohesion, and empathy as he does on shrinkage rates and unit economics. In addition to winning him the support of teams, this balance has brought him national recognition; in 2023, the Ukrainian Business Award named him “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
Serhii Perekrest moved to Florida, USA, in 2023 to work as the Chief Retail Officer at Mars Supermarkets (Euroland), a local chain that specializes in European groceries. This shift was strategic rather than just geographical. In order to adapt the retail model to the American environment, he added digital performance analytics, dynamic incentive programs, and department-level profit accountability.
He modified his tried-and-true Ukrainian techniques to fit American consumer habits at Mars, introducing programs like salad bars and hot food and incorporating feedback loops into daily operations. Under his direction, team performance, profitability, and customer satisfaction all saw quantifiable increases.
Perekrest used consulting to increase his influence as well. Notably, he provided advice to Kolos USA, a hybrid format that combines freshly prepared food counters with European deli-style retail. The startup was able to streamline operations and establish a niche in Florida’s competitive food retail market thanks to his blueprint.
Serhii Perekrest is renowned as a thought leader and educator in addition to his operational responsibilities. He has been invited as an expert at investor roundtables, a guest lecturer at universities, and a scientific reviewer for retail management publications. Among his published works are articles about process optimization, employee motivation using dynamic KPI modeling, and business scaling.
“A strong retail leader builds systems where people and performance grow together,” he says, expressing his belief in empowering others. My goal is to simplify complexity.
Perekrest is a leader in more than just business. He organized civilian supply chains to aid humanitarian organizations and National Guard brigades during the conflict in Ukraine. Because of his retail logistical experience, he was able to create efficient delivery networks and received official recognition for his voluntary work.
His work in the United States, where he collaborates with multicultural communities and cultivates inclusive workplaces through the retail format, reflects this sense of purpose.
Serhii Perekrest is redefining what retail leadership looks like in the twenty-first century, not just optimizing supermarkets. His journey is far from over, as he intends to start training programs for aspiring retail managers and increase his consulting footprint.
Leaders like Perekrest are not only keeping up, but also setting the standard in a time when the retail industry is changing quickly due to factors like digitalization, labor dynamics, and customer expectations.
