Billions from Low-Cost Goods: “Aurora” Surpassed ATB and “Silpo” in Profits
17 June 17:38
ANALYSIS
The Ukrainian retail market is undergoing a major transformation. Against the backdrop of challenging macroeconomic conditions , the “Aurora” multi-market chain has emerged as one of the leaders in terms of growth rates, financial performance, and social impact . It has established a “one-dollar store” format —a concept unique to Eastern Europe —that offers fixed low prices. The total revenue of the “Aurora” multi-market chain soared by 28.6% and reached a staggering 58.6 billion hryvnias, including VAT. This is according to data from OpenDataBot, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian". How a business built on the concept of ultra-cheap goods and thousands of useful little items managed to outpace market titans, and how much money the company continues to earn in the first quarter of 2026—read on.
Financial Triumph: No. 1 in Profit in Ukraine
According to official financial reports and data from aggregators (including OpenDataBot), Aurora demonstrated unprecedented growth over the course of the year.
- The chain’s annual revenue totaled 58.6 billion hryvnias (including VAT), a 28.6% increase compared to the previous year. In dollar terms , the group’s consolidated revenue confidently surpassed the 1.4 billion U.S. dollar mark.
- The company’s net profit (Vygidna Pokupka LLC) reached 4.52 billion hryvnias (an 11% increase over last year’s record). Based on this metric, “Aurora” ranked first in Ukraine among all retail chains, surpassing even such giants as “ATB-Market” (3.43 billion hryvnias in net profit) and “Silpo” (1.16 billion hryvnia).
By comparison, the grocery retail sector, in which “ATB” operates, is heavily dependent on essential goods with minimal markups and limited shelf lives (subsidized bread, milk, meat). Margins there are minimal. “Aurora” sells non-food items, cosmetics, plastic goods, office supplies, and imported trinkets from China. The markup on such goods can be 100%, 200%, or even higher. Therefore, by selling for a lower total amount, they earn significantly more in net profit.
At the same time, ATB employs over 46,600 people. This entails enormous expenses for salaries, logistics for refrigerated products, the operation of massive stores, and electricity for refrigerators. “Aurora” does not need expensive cold storage facilities or 1,000-square-meter supermarkets. Their format consists of small, non-refrigerated spaces with a minimal number of staff per shift.
In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the ATB Corporation generated:
- Revenue: 63.97 billion UAH
- Net profit: 936.52 million UAH
This means that ATB’s quarterly profitability remains at approximately 1.46%. In other words, the trend remains unchanged: ATB continues to process massive amounts of money through its registers, but in terms of net margin, Aurora’s non-commercial segment squeezes out significantly more “real” profit from each transaction.
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Network Scale and Consumer Basket
As of today, the “Aurora” chain has over 1,851 operating retail locations in Ukraine, opening an average of one new store every 48 hours. In the first quarter alone, the company expanded by 59 new locations.
According to the company’s CEO, Taras Panasenko, the number of unique customers in the network has exceeded 12 million people, who have made over 370 million purchases. Cat food emerged as the absolute best-selling product nationwide by number of units sold, demonstrating Aurora’s deep integration into the daily household needs of Ukrainian families.
A Ukrainian Presence in the EU Market
An important milestone in the company’s expansion was its entry into the European market. In Romania, 65 “Aurora” stores are already operating successfully, generating over $26 million in revenue (about 2% of the group’s total turnover).
Despite differences in decision-making culture and regulatory procedures within the EU, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) in Romania turned out to be even higher than in Ukraine. Moreover, “Aurora” serves as an export bridge: the company collaborates with 600 Ukrainian manufacturers, 36 of which are already exporting their products to the shelves of the chain’s Romanian stores.
At the same time, “Aurora” has outgrown the role of a traditional retailer. This is evidenced by the creation of its own investment fund, Aurora Next. The fund focuses on Ukrainian businesses with rapid growth potential in related industries (food retail, pet supplies, etc.). The investment criteria are clear: a minimum of 25 operating stores, annual revenue of $5 million to $50 million, and a growth rate of at least 30%. This is a strategic move that transforms the company into a powerful driver of the entire Ukrainian business ecosystem.
Social Responsibility and the “White” Economy
Operating exclusively within the legal framework remains a fundamental principle for the founders (Lev Zhydenko, Taras Panasenko, and Lesya Klymenko) and partners at the Horizon Capital investment fund.
- Taxes: Over the past year, “Aurora” paid more than 8.6 billion hryvnias in taxes and fees, ranking among the country’s top 20 largest taxpayers. In the first quarter of this year alone, it paid an additional 2.5 billion hryvnias (up 19.4% year-over-year). The company also received the prestigious AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) status for customs procedures.
- Philanthropy: Direct financial support for social and military projects (assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, doctors, and humanitarian missions) totaled over 322 million hryvnias.
- Inclusion: The company has introduced systemic and, for Ukraine, unique top-level positions— Chief Veteran Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer. Currently, more than 140 male and female veterans, including service members with disabilities, are successfully working on the team.
Thus, the “Aurora” phenomenon proves that the right positioning (accessibility, speed, and local presence), combined with strict technological control over logistics and transparent corporate governance standards, can work economic wonders even in times of global upheaval.
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