16.07.2026
The combination of VARUS's expertise in the development of modern grocery retail and KOLO's years of experience in the convenience store format will create a solid foundation for further business scaling. The companies plan to leverage the best practices of both chains, developing a unified modern retail ecosystem focused on speed, service quality, and customer comfort.
The merger will allow the companies to significantly strengthen their positions in the convenience retail segment — one of the most dynamic formats in modern retail. Today, customers increasingly prefer small stores near their homes or workplaces, where they can quickly purchase fresh products, ready-to-eat meals, and daily essentials. This is why the neighborhood store format is one of the key development trends in global and Ukrainian retail.
"For us, this is not just the acquisition of another retail chain. This is an investment in the future of Ukrainian retail. We are uniting two strong teams, their experience, knowledge, and approaches to create an even more effective company that can respond faster to customer needs and set new industry standards," noted Nataliya Azyukovska, CEO of the VARUS supermarket chain.
"As of today, the KOLO chain consists of 254 stores, over 1,100 specialists, and a 9-year history of growth. We believe that the integration will unlock new opportunities for scaling logistics, developing digital services, optimizing procurement, expanding the product range, and implementing modern technological solutions. At the same time, the company will maintain its focus on high service quality, product availability, and the development of private labels," emphasized Denys Zdorenko, CEO of the KOLO chain.
For customers, the merger will mean access to a wider selection of goods, new services, modern digital tools, beneficial promotions, and loyalty programs. The integration will take place gradually to ensure the uninterrupted operation of stores and a most comfortable transition for customers.
The companies will pay special attention to the employees of the KOLO chain. VARUS plans to retain the professional team and provide employees with new opportunities for development, training, and career growth within the merged company.
As a reminder, KOLO has been operating in the Ukrainian market since 2017 and is one of the largest operators of the "neighborhood grocery store" format. Currently, the chain operates 254 stores, serves over 70,000 customers daily, and unites over 1,100 employees.
VARUS, founded in 2003, is today one of the leading grocery chains in Ukraine. The company actively develops offline and online retail, private labels, digital services, and innovative solutions for customers. The merger with KOLO will become another step in implementing the company's long-term development strategy and strengthening its position in the Ukrainian market.
Further integration stages will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of current legislation and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the business. The companies will inform partners, customers, and employees about the key stages of this process.
Reference
VARUS is a national supermarket chain represented in the Ukrainian grocery retail market by Omega company. The chain's first store opened in 2003 in Dnipro; currently, the total number is 120 supermarkets in various cities of Ukraine. The chain operates in several formats: classic supermarkets, To Go stores, and is developing the conscious shopping service VARUS.UA.
KOLO is a Ukrainian chain of convenience stores (neighborhood stores with the necessary assortment of daily convenience goods and quick purchases) developed by Arytail LLC. The company was founded on February 7, 2017, and at the time of the agreement, it was part of Gennadiy Butkevych's investment group, BGV Group Management. The chain consists of 254 stores with a total retail area of over 17,000 sq. m. and is represented in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Odesa, and Odesa Oblast. The company employs over 1,100 people, and the chain's stores serve about 60–65 thousand customers daily. KOLO is among the leading operators in the Ukrainian convenience store market.