The largest Ukrainian chain of one dollar stores “Aurora” intends to open 400 new stores at the end of this year and reach 2 thousand outlets in Ukraine by the end of the next year, said the CEO of the network Taras Panasenko.
“In June we opened 40 stores, in July – 24, in August will be more than 30. The plan for this year is 400 stores, we fulfill it in principle. Today, together with Romanian stores we have already passed the figure of 1.5 thousand stores, 25 of them in Romania and more than 1480 in Ukraine. The plan in Ukraine is 2.5 thousand stores. I think that at the end of next year we will definitely exceed 2 thousand stores, and in 2026 we will reach the goal,” – said Panasenko at the Business Breakfast from Forbes Ukraine on Wednesday.
According to him, next year the chain plans to enter the Moldovan market, and in 2026 to expand to other markets, considering the Balkan countries.
In addition, the company intends to develop new formats in the network, as well as digital business. In particular, a new format store was opened in Kiev – with a larger area, children’s and beauty departments, as well as an area for a quick snack.
“Aurora is also continuing its development in waste sorting and recycling: it plans to open waste sorting points in two cities by the end of the year. Currently, such a point is functioning in Poltava.
According to Panasenko, the network’s revenue grew by 55% in the first quarter. The company has the same plan for the second quarter, despite the problems with electricity in July.
“We finished the first quarter as planned – we made 55%. I think the second quarter will be the same. Of course, the power outage and atypical heat wave in July had a significant impact. During this period we fulfilled the plan by 85-90%, but now the situation has normalized,” explained the businessman.
“Aurora” was founded in 2011 by Lev Zhidenko, Taras Panasenko and Lesya Klimenko. The main office of the retail chain “Aurora” is located in Poltava. Today the chain has more than 1400 stores in Ukraine and 25 in Romania.
According to Opendatabot, the owner of Vypodnaya Bukupa LLC, which develops the chain, is listed as the Cyprus-based Auroritail Investments Limited, with Zhidenko as its beneficiary. The Cypriot company is also the owner of Prior Development LLC, Seven A LLC, Industrial 9 LLC and Yes LLC.
According to the results of 2023, the net profit of the network amounted to UAH 4.1 billion, net income – UAH 27 billion.
