Famila opens in Usmate Velate: reusing retail premises in Brianza

Famila is expanding its presence in Brianza, northern Italy, with a new supermarket on Via Medaglie d’Oro in Usmate Velate. The news, published on 28 September 2026 by L’Express Franchise, focuses on an opening made possible by redeveloping existing retail premises. For the franchising community, the case offers a practical insight into the relationship between network expansion, property selection and local competition.

A supermarket in existing retail premises

The new Famila occupies a site previously used by retail businesses. The project has therefore brought an existing retail site back into use, rather than involving a new building. This is the defining feature of the Usmate Velate opening: the network is expanding by reusing a retail site rather than constructing new premises.

The store includes the main fresh food departments: a deli, butcher’s counter, fish counter and bakery. Its range is designed to meet local residents’ everyday grocery needs, bringing several types of food shopping together under one roof.

To support the launch, the opening publicity advertises 10% off all shopping until 30 September. This is an opening promotion and should be distinguished from the store’s permanent offering. The source does not give the supermarket’s floor area, staffing numbers or the specific investment in this location.

How the opening fits into Selex’s 2026 plan

The opening forms part of Selex Group’s development programme, which includes twenty new stores and 33 refurbishments announced for 2026. The plan therefore covers both an expanded retail presence and improvements to the existing network: two distinct activities that should be kept separate when interpreting the announced figures.

Selex brings together independent business owners and operates under several retail brands, including Famila, A&O and Emisfero. The Usmate Velate supermarket should therefore be viewed within this broader context, without automatically attributing all the group’s planned projects to Famila alone.

The timing also warrants attention. The twenty openings are an announced target for 2026, not a count of stores that the report confirms have already opened. For those tracking network growth, distinguishing plans from completed projects allows for a more accurate assessment of expansion.

The report also does not specify the contractual arrangement used for the new supermarket. It cannot therefore be presented as a confirmed franchise opening, nor does it provide a basis for establishing the terms of joining the network. Its relevance to the franchising community lies mainly in the location strategy and competitive environment.

Another opening a few kilometres away in Brianza

The new Famila is entering an area where several national retail brands are already present. The same source highlights another project a few kilometres from Usmate Velate: an Iperal supermarket in Monza, on the former Colombo site, scheduled to open on 30 September, with 127 new hires announced.

The employment figure relates solely to the Iperal project and must not be associated with the Famila store. The comparison is useful instead for showing how close two separate retail projects are in both location and timing.

These overlapping openings demonstrate interest in Brianza from several operators, but do not, on their own, establish how much room remains for additional stores. The available research provides no figures for the two locations’ expected revenues, respective customer catchment areas or local market shares. It would therefore be inappropriate to treat the openings as a forecast of profitability for new investors.

What to assess before joining a franchise

For a prospective franchisee, the case raises an initial question about property: what advantages and constraints come with premises previously used for retail? The source highlights potential benefits from reuse in terms of opening timescales and planning-related costs, but provides no financial comparison for this particular project. Any assessment therefore requires site-specific checks.

A second consideration is competition: nearby store openings call for an analysis of the retail offer already available, rather than simply the area’s overall appeal. Finally, prospective operators need to obtain information directly from the network about the operating model, required investment and support available.

Practical takeaway: before considering a franchise, check the premises, competitors and contractual terms. The Usmate Velate opening is a case worth following, not a guarantee of results that can be replicated.