Malaysian discount retailer MR.DIY is preparing to open its first Hungarian store at Budapest’s KÖKI shopping centre, with recruitment already underway. The rapidly expanding chain has entered several European markets in recent years, and industry sources say hundreds of stores could eventually be possible in some countries.
MR.DIY prepares first Hungarian store
A new international player is entering Hungary’s discount household goods market. Work is already underway on the first Hungarian MR.DIY store at KÖKI Terminal in Budapest, where the chain has also started recruiting staff, according to signage at the site.
The Malaysian retailer is not a newcomer to Europe. Over the past five years, it has expanded from Turkey and Spain to Poland and Romania, with further expansion into Central Europe now underway.
The Hungarian launch comes after industry analysts had already identified MR.DIY as a potential new entrant to the Hungarian market alongside brands such as Uniqlo and Miniso. The exact opening date of the KÖKI store has not yet been announced, however.
What is MR.DIY and what does it sell?
Founded in Kuala Lumpur in 2005, MR.DIY has grown into one of Asia’s largest retailers of home improvement and household goods. The company’s business model is built around its “Always Low Prices” concept, putting it firmly in the discount segment.
A typical MR.DIY store covers around 900 square metres and carries between 15,000 and 17,000 products. Its range includes tools, household goods, home decoration, electrical accessories, stationery, toys and sporting goods.
The retailer therefore combines elements of a DIY shop, household discount store and homeware retailer. The company has recently reported having around 5,700–6,000 stores across 15–16 countries, depending on the period and corporate reporting used.
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From Istanbul to Budapest: MR.DIY’s European expansion
MR.DIY opened its first European store in Istanbul in November 2021. It entered the European Union in 2022, opening its first Spanish shop in Talavera de la Reina in Toledo province. Expansion accelerated considerably over the past two years.
Poland joined the chain’s European network in late 2024, while Romania opened its first store in March 2026. The chain is also preparing to enter the Czech market, with its first store planned at the Forum Nová Karolina shopping centre in Ostrava.
Spain has continued to see new openings, including a store of almost 600 square metres at Madrid’s Xanadú shopping centre in September. MR.DIY is reportedly planning another 20–30 Spanish stores in 2027. In Germany, the company has so far progressed to establishing a local corporate entity: MR. D.I.Y. Germany GmbH was registered in Berlin in January 2026.
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Poland offers a glimpse of what could come next
Poland has become one of the main drivers of MR.DIY’s Central European expansion. The first Polish store opened in Zabrze on 15 November 2024. By July 2026, the chain had already reached 35 stores in the country, with 19 new locations opened during the first half of the year alone.
Romania has seen similarly rapid growth. Seven stores have opened in the seven months since the chain’s debut in Pitești, with at least 11 expected by the end of the year. In both countries, MR.DIY has focused on shopping centres and retail parks rather than limiting its expansion to major cities.
Whether Hungary will see a similar pace of growth remains unclear. The company has not announced a specific Hungarian expansion target.
Who will MR.DIY compete with in Hungary?
Industry sources cited by Pénzcentrum identify TEDi and KiK as two of MR.DIY’s most obvious Hungarian competitors, while JYSK could also overlap with the chain in certain product categories. In the Czech Republic, local media have primarily described MR.DIY as a challenger to discount chains such as Pepco and Action.
The extent of the price competition will only become clear once the Hungarian store opens, as the retailer’s Hungarian pricing has not yet been disclosed.
MR.DIY wants to cover Europe
Magdalena Nazarewicz, MR.DIY’s European business development director, told Czech business newspaper E15 in July that the company’s ambition is to cover the whole of Europe and become a leading player in every market it enters, while acknowledging that conditions differ from country to country.
Polish media have reported that the company sees at least 1,000 stores in Poland as a long-term ambition. The figure is a strategic goal rather than a commitment tied to a specific deadline.
In Romania, MR.DIY’s local business development manager, Cătălin Secăreanu, has also referred to an ambition of around 500 stores. Again, this is a long-term objective rather than a promise to reach that number within a particular year. There is currently no equivalent public target for Hungary.
When will the Budapest store open?
The exact opening date of the KÖKI store is not yet known. Recruitment has already begun, however, suggesting that preparations are well underway. If the Budapest location performs well, MR.DIY could potentially accelerate its Hungarian expansion, following the pattern seen in Poland and Romania. For now, though, there is no confirmed plan for hundreds or thousands of Hungarian stores.
