Author Archives: CrispConsulting

Russian and Dutch investment team plan Florida launch

Written by

Russian retailer, Agro Trade, is looking to build a chain of retail stores in Florida, with the backing of a Dutch investor. The company is looking into a potential 400 stores to create a projected $1 billion of sales within four years.

The scheme would be backed by a Dutch investment to the tune of $500 million, from the same firm that backed Russia’s X5 Retail Group. Andrei Rogachyov, who founded those chains and remains an investor in X5, is separately heading AgroTrade International, according to a report in the Moscow Times newspaper.

It is not clear what branding Agro Trade would seek to use in its new stores, though it is expected they will begin trading this year from around 60 outlets.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Billa in favour of take-over in Russia

Written by

The Austrian supermarket chain Billa have requested permission from the Russian competition authority to take over the supermarket chain Citystore. Although Citystore is specialized in the food trade the chain is run by the Turkish building company Enka Insaat.

Enka took over the chain in 2007. At that stage the chain controlled ten shopping centres and 52 supermarkets in various Russian towns. Enka had from the beginning plans to sell the supermarket chain. Some supermarkets were already rented to the French chain Auchan in the meantime. Other shops in the region had to be closed during the crisis.

Citystore still have 17 supermarkets in Moscow, of which seven are their own and ten have been rented out on long leases.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Okey to open 17 new hypermarkets in 2012

Written by

In 2011 retail operator Okey added 14 stores to its chain – 7 hypermarkets and 7 supermarkets, the opening of 4 hypermarkets was postponed till 2012. One in Voronezh was opened on 5 January 2012, hypermarkets in Ufa and Tyumen will be launched in January-February, till the end of Q2 2012 a store in Moscow will be opened. Apart from that the retailer is planning to open 13 more stores till the end of 2012.

Source: www.retail.ru

Bonduelle concludes negotiations with CECAB

Written by

The Bonduelle Group has today announced the conclusion of negotiations regarding the acquisition of the agro-industrial and commercial assets of French co-operative CECAB in Russia and in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This acquisition, which has already been planned in October, should take effect in Q1 2012 for the start of the sowing season thus assuring the 2012 harvest. It is however still subject to the agreement of the Russian competition authorities.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

German Billa is planning takeover of Russian Citystore

Written by

Billa, the Central European arm of German retail giant Rewe, wants to take over Russian supermarket chain Citystore. Moscow-based Citystore confirmed talks with Billa were being held.

In addition, Russia’s competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, confirmed that Billa has requested approval to take over the chain. Experts in Russian media estimate the value of the deal at US$70-100m.

Citystore is owned by Turkish conglomerate Enka and consists of 17 supermarkets, all of which are based in Moscow or the region of Moscow.

Billa entered the Russian market in 2004 and operates 72 supermarkets, the lion share of which are also located in the Russian capital.

Source: www.just-food.com

No problems with vegetable storage faced in Ukraine and Russia for the present

Written by

Too low prices remain the main problem for Russian and Ukrainian vegetable producers. The quality is still satisfactory though. This is indicated by Fruit-Inform’s mini-survey of vegetable growers in Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, farmers think that a slight temperature drop will only profit them. If the temperature remains relatively high in the second half of winter, farmers will most likely not avoid quality decrease of vegetables in unequipped storage facilities.

To attract purchasers some farmers are ready to lower prices, which haven’t changed in the last 2 weeks. This situation fully corroborates Fruit-Inform’s forecasts made at the Eighth International Conference “Fruits & Vegetables of Ukraine – 2011. New Exporter”.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

More than 50% of Russian retail managers don’t expect any changes in the economical situation

Written by

According to Rosstat (Russian State Statistics Service), more than 50% of Russian retail managers don’t expect any changes in the economical situation in retail in Q1 2012.

However, around 30% of the polled trade companies are expecting the retail turnover to increase in Q1 2012, 25% are going to raise the sales volume, supply and the range of sold goods. At the same time 25% of undertakers expect revenues growth, and almost 50% – further price growth, 6% are planning to raise the trade mark-up.

In Q4 2011 the average level of trade mark-up was 27%, like in 2010.

Source: www.retail.ru

Consumers demonstrate moderate activity before the New Year

Written by

For the first time in the last few years consumers demonstrate moderate buying activity and growth rate reduction can be seen. This trend is more obvious in St. Petersburg than anywhere else.

This autumn Russia has seen consumption growth reduction. Russians have become more reasonable when planning personal budget and citizens of St. Petersburg have been the most moderate in their expenditures.

The first  evidence of the alarming trend appeared at the end of October and were most definite in November. In November expenditures grew by only 2% in comparison to October, whereas in the last two years the growth during this period was 5-6%.

Consumers started to buy only the required amount of goods and retail chains will have to face the new stage of competition: clients will be acquired by means of raising service quality.

Source: www.retail.ru

Morocco wants to export more citrus to Russia

Written by

Russia imports more than 8.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually. Of this, less than 4% is from Morocco. Although the Moroccan export figures show a rise in fruit and vegetable export, the export is only 3.6% of the market share. Citrus is the most important product with 92% of the market share.

But there are new perspectives for the Moroccan export to Russia. Recently a Russian delegation visited Morocco to view the route the citrus follows and mainly to view the phyto-sanitary checks.

Morocco does have a checking system, that has been approved by the EVO. But Russia has not yet recognized this and has therefore been invited to see the checking system on the site. According to the national bureau for food safety the delegation was visibly surprised by the level of the system. However the definitive publication report of the Russian delegation remains to be seen.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Chilean Kiwi gains ground in Russian market

Written by

According to Chile’s agricultural attaché in Russia, Pablo Barahona, Chilean kiwifruit is gaining importance in the country, and is very well-regarded by the importers. However, Chile has a great task as an industry, which is to improve the perception of the product. “Russia became our main market destination in Europe after Britain. Currently we are, in the Russian market, one of the leading suppliers in different products and therefore it is a very interesting niche.”

Pablo Barahona said, they are studying the feasibility of finding ways of collaboration between Russian and Chilean producers. Last month they began to work in the town of Sochi on the shores of the Black Sea and have already had the first harvest, with fruits of average size of 80 grams, reaching production expectations.

Source: www.freshplaza.com