Market Of Premium Supermarkets In Russia

Appearance in Russia of the first premium food supermarkets happened in 90-s. Pioneers of the segment were foreign players. Naturally urban-based facilities of luxury food retailers were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Opening of the first Russian player in the premium supermarkets segment were in 1997. In Moscow on Valovaya street appeared the first store of the network "Azbuka Vkusa".

Over the past 14 years the capital market filled with new powerful players and managed to reach the stage of medium saturation. The basis of the capital market of premium form constitute the networks: "Seventh Continent - 5 stars", "Azbuka Vkusa" and "Red Sails" (totaly 78,5% of the market or 73 supermarkets). The smallest number of stores are represented by "Globus Gourmet" (10,6% of the market), "Kalinka Stockmann - Grocery" (4,3%)," Bahetle" (4,3%) and "Green Crossing"(3,2%). 

The period from 2006 to 2009 was characterized by 14.7% average annual growth in market  in quantitative terms. The maximum increase was observed in the market in 2007 - 29,3%. Activators of growth were the network "Azbuka Vkusa," "Red Sails" and "Globus Gourmet".

Note that the data network as a whole are the main driving force of the market in quantitative terms: the other networks have either low (Bahetle "," Green Crossing ") or high ("Seven Continent - 5 stars") home base, or develop only as a companion core business ("Kalinka-Stockmann - Grocery").