The social and economic role of corporate trading networks in the context of modernization of the sphere of commodity circulation in Ukraine is determined. The network form of trade organization is defined to be an effective way of forming the competitive advantages of modern enterprises. It is noted that trade networks contribute to the balancing of production and consumption, the formation of gross value added, the growth of employment, the raising of the educational and qualification level of employees. Three main groups of factors influencing the formation and development of corporate trading networks are considered, in particular the economic, demographic, and urban development. The main tendencies of development of large corporate trading networks at the territory of Ukraine are proven to correspond to world tendencies. The largest trade networks of Ukraine by the share of retail trade turnover of trading enterprises, the number of retail objects of the network and the volume of sales per square meter of trading space are determined. The influence of corporate trading networks on the socio-economic development of the region is described, i.e. the stimulation of economic, social and creative components of the economy. The paper emphasizes that the territories of large cities are particularly attractive for the expansion of corporate trading networks. The activities of corporate trading networks stimulate the development of urban planning and spatial planning of cities and suburban areas. The author shows that the search for quality trade areas stimulates the construction of new trade and shopping-entertainment centers. In recent years, the shopping centers have expanded their functions, contributing to the development of the socio-economic environment of the region. The main directions of such expansion are: ensuring accessibility – improving the quality of the process of buying goods for the prices familiar to a customer in the format of «three in one»; development of trade, road, logistics infrastructure of the region; сreating wide access for consumers to diverse groups of goods and services through an extensive network of trading enterprises; the cultivation of the territory of cities and their peripheries – the transformation of shopping centers into multifunctional community centers that are integrated into the lives of local residents and provide an extended offer of food and beverage, entertainment and household services); increasing the attractiveness of the city’s districts for living. The author reveals the main tendencies of development of large corporate networks, which indicate: a certain stabilization of the economic situation in Ukraine; a qualitative state of the business climate that determines the emergence of large international retailers on the Ukrainian market; planning own development taking into account economic opportunities of the population (development of «private label» and local retail networks), etc. The geographical localization of objects of corporate trading networks is described. There is a certain saturation of trade objects of the eastern region of the country, which reduces the potential for attracting additional investments. At the same time, the level of supply of retail space in the cities of Western Ukraine remains low, which gives them a potential for growth.