TERWIN businesses among the largest taxpayers among Ukrainian retailers
The national supermarket chain has completed the first half of 2025 with strong results in growth, investment, and social responsibility.
VARUS summarized its performance for the first half of 2025, showing impressive progress despite wartime challenges. The company reported growth across all key indicators — from financial results to network expansion and social initiatives.
₴1 Billion in Taxes: +21% Contribution to the State Budget
Over six months of 2025, VARUS transferred ₴1.049 billion in taxes, an increase of 20.97% compared to last year. For comparison, the company paid ₴1.756 billion in taxes for the entire year of 2024. Current dynamics suggest that the annual figure could exceed ₴2 billion.
These results confirm VARUS’s status as one of the largest taxpayers among Ukrainian retailers, proving the company’s stability even during wartime.
“The growth of our tax payments is not only a sign of successful business development but also proof of our unwavering commitment to Ukraine. We are proud to contribute even more to strengthening the country’s economy and supporting its financial stability,”
— said Maryna Panina, CFO of VARUS.
Record Turnover: +18.1% Growth
VARUS’s financial performance shows strong momentum — turnover grew by 18.1% compared to the first half of 2024.
Such growth during wartime confirms not only the resilience of the company’s business model but also customers’ continued trust in the brand.
E-commerce Expansion: VARUS.UA Doubles Market Share
“Our online direction showed remarkable results in the first half of 2025. The market share and turnover of the VARUS.UA conscious shopping platform doubled compared to the same period last year,”
— said Oleh Spirin, e-commerce director of VARUS.UA.
Key growth indicators:
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Purchase frequency up 10%
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Average check increased 15%
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Website users grew 20%, app users — 90%
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Turnover via Nova Poshta delivery up 1.61x
The company is introducing innovative solutions to enhance customer experience — including product subscriptions, an AI assistant for customer support, AI-generated recipes, and a tipping system for order pickers. These initiatives make online shopping more convenient and personalized.
EBRD Partnership: ₴1 Billion+ for Development
In July, VARUS received the first tranche — ₴630 million — from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as part of a total ₴1 billion+ loan. The remaining funds will be provided by year-end within a ₴2.2 billion food security project.
The financing will go toward network expansion, business resilience, and energy efficiency upgrades under the Green Economy Transition (GET) approach — including the installation of solar panels, LED lighting modernization, reversible HVAC systems, and logistics improvements.
This partnership, signed in March 2024, signals that major international financial institutions continue investing in Ukrainian companies, even during wartime.
Network Expansion: Three New Supermarkets
In the first half of 2025, VARUS opened three new locations, bringing the total to 115 supermarkets.
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March 28 — A new store on Frantsuzkyi Boulevard 22, Odesa, featuring a cozy VARUS Café with a bar and seating area.
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June 28 — VARUS Home opened at 39A Tyutyunnyka St., Kyiv, the city’s second “convenience format” store.
“VARUS Home is where everyone can shop quickly and comfortably. Convenient layout, modern technology, and high-quality products are our main advantages,” said Anna Luhanska, Marketing Director of VARUS.
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July 4 — A new store in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, 30 Lesi Ukrainky St. — a modern location with stylish interior and intuitive navigation.
All new stores feature self-checkout systems and Scan&Go mobile shopping, minimizing checkout time. Online delivery is also available via VARUS.UA.
Private Labels: 14 Brands for Every Budget
VARUS continues developing its private label portfolio, now featuring 14 brands across food and non-food categories.
Private labels account for 10.5% of total turnover and continue to grow.
In 2025, VARUS is launching four new focus brands and expanding existing categories. Among the most popular are Varto and Vygoda, which have gained consumer trust through their balance of price and quality.
Green Energy: Solar Panels on 21 Stores
VARUS actively implements energy efficiency projects — solar panels have been installed on 21 supermarkets, partially covering their electricity needs.
This initiative not only saves company resources but also supports the transition toward a green economy.
Social Responsibility: ₴7.7 Million in Aid
VARUS remains committed to social responsibility, donating about ₴7.7 million in the first half of 2025.
Key initiatives:
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22 vehicles donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the “Drive to Victory Together” project
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Support for 13 animal shelters with first aid kits as part of the “Dobrohryvnia” campaign
This systemic support shows that VARUS is not only running a business but also actively helping society endure wartime challenges.
People Development: “Talent Kitchen” and Youth Opportunities
VARUS continues investing in its team. In the first half of the year, 2,009 new employees joined the company.
The internal “Talent Kitchen” program showed record results:
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224 applications, 220 participants, 160 promotions, 15 pending transfers, and 35 in training.
The process has been automated via chatbot to simplify career growth.
VARUS held 61 internal and 7 external training sessions, introduced a mentorship system, and even launched vacancies for 17-year-olds, now making up 7% of July hires.
“We meet young people where they are, speak their language, and offer a fair deal: you bring energy and responsibility — we provide stability and growth,”
said Felix Matyushyn, Head of HR for the VARUS retail network.
The VARUStable initiative also promotes mental health — 30 internal communications with resilience tools were distributed to help employees manage stress.
A company-wide culture assessment showed improved teamwork, engagement, and trust — proving that even during war, VARUS strengthened its corporate culture.
Looking Ahead
The results of the first half of 2025 confirm that VARUS’s growth strategy is on the right track. The company continues to strengthen its market position, expand technological innovation, and support Ukrainian society.
VARUS plans to further expand, implement new technologies, and grow its trusted private label portfolio known for value and quality.
Background:
VARUS is a national supermarket chain operated by Omega Company in Ukraine’s grocery retail market.
The first store opened in Dnipro in 2003. Today, the network includes 115 supermarkets across various cities and a DarkStore in Kyiv.
VARUS operates in multiple formats: classic supermarkets, To Go stores, and the VARUS.UA conscious shopping platform.