Varus, one of Ukraine’s leading supermarket chains, is set to invest $30 million over the next three years to develop a standalone technology platform for subscription-based grocery delivery. According to Ruslan Shostak, co-owner of Varus, the company aims to evolve from a traditional retailer into a service-oriented business that allows customers to order everything they need in just a few clicks — from a ready-made dinner to complete lifestyle packages like “guests in an hour” or “a healthy week.”
To achieve this, Varus will establish a separate business unit with its own IT team, marketing department, courier service, and product marketplace. The project will include a food subscription service and smart tools integrated with calendars and smart home systems.
In partnership with Ukrainian startup Neomi, Varus plans to develop an AI-powered digital assistant to help users plan purchases. The company also intends to open automated dark stores in Kyiv and scale its in-house delivery operations, gradually phasing out outsourcing. Collaboration with local suppliers and craft brands is also part of the strategy.
Varus is a national Ukrainian supermarket chain operated by Omega LLC, which opened its first store in Dnipro in 2003. The chain currently includes 114 supermarkets across Ukraine, including a Kyiv-based dark store, and operates in various formats such as traditional supermarkets, To Go stores, and the online platform varus.ua.
According to Opendatabot, Omega LLC is owned by Cyprus-based Weigandt Enterprises Limited, with Valeriy Kiptik and Ruslan Shostak listed as ultimate beneficiaries. In 2024, the company’s revenue grew by 14.3% year-on-year to UAH 20 billion, while net profit dropped by 80.9% to UAH 38.2 million.
