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Embroiled in controversy

French DIY Retailer Leroy Merlin to Cede Control of Russian Stores

The company has been accused of allowing pro-Kremlin activists to use its delivery network to supply the Russian military.

withdrawal complete

Swedish Clothing Giant H&M Shutters Last Stores in Russia

Swedish fashion retailer H&M announced on Thursday that it had closed its last remaining stores in Russia and Belarus, wrapping up its progressive...

Russian Online Retail Leaders Double Sales in 2021

Wildberries, Ozon and AliExpress Russia all expanded rapidly last year.

PRICE CONSCIOUS

Rising Inflation Gives Boost to Russia’s Discount Retailers

Surging prices and weak wages are a win-win for Russia’s bargain stores, even as the wider economy slows.

Russian Online Retail Pioneer KupiVIP Shuts Down

A failed deal with Yandex was the final chance to save the company, which struggled to compete with well-backed online retail firms.

Russia Launches Price-Fixing Investigation Into Top Supermarkets

Competition authorities allege collusion to keep prices higher. Analysts suspect political concerns over inflation.

AMERICAN EXPANSION

Russia’s Top Online Retailer Targets U.S. Market

Wildberries launches on Amazon’s home turf in latest international expansion.

‘We Need Our Government’: Surging Food Prices Put Kremlin on Edge

Food prices are rising fast in Russia and the government has rolled out temporary price caps, but discontent is simmering.

Russian Retailer Launches Facial Recognition Payments

The scheme is backed by Visa and Sberbank, and will be rolled out to 3,000 stores by the end of the year.

Russian Discount Chain Eyes Largest Foreign IPO Since Sanctions

FixPrice is aiming to raise up to $1.7 billion in its London stock market launch.

Russia’s Wildberries Launches in France, Italy and Spain

Russia’s leading online retail giant is betting big on Europe in a major expansion drive.

Russia's Top Online Retailer Launches in Germany

Marketplace Wildberries is plotting expansion into lucrative Western European markets.

Masks, Sofas & TVs Top Russians’ 2020 Shopping Lists

Stay-at-home items proved, unsurprisingly, to be the most popular consumer goods of the year.

THE SBER ECONOMY

Sberbank’s Big Plan to Become Russia’s Consumer Goliath Takes Shape

The state-owned lender will launch an online retail giant in 2021, as it aims to be the main player in almost every sphere of Russian life.

Russian Spending Down 40% on Black Friday

Retail outlook darkens, as online boost fails to compensate for in-store slump.

CLEAR FOR LAUNCH

Ozon Sets Price for Blockbuster $5Bln Share Sale in Quest to Be Russia’s Amazon

Online retail giant gears up for most hotly anticipated Russian stock market launch in years.

RETAIL SLOWDOWN

No Lockdown, But Russia's Shoppers Start Self-Isolating

Consumer spending has dropped to levels not seen since the first wave.

WINDOW SHOPPING

Idle Moscow Stores Reveal Emerging Economic Scars

Shop vacancy rates in the Russian capital are set to hit a record high, and experts expect a wave of bankruptcies in Russia’s services sector.

SIGNS OF RECOVERY

Consumer Spending Approaches Pre-Coronavirus Levels

Sberbank payments data shows spending levels are just 8% down on last year.

SHOPPING DROPPING

Russia’s Shops Reopen Their Doors, But Customers Only Trickle In

Tills are starting to ring as Russia's lockdown eases, but business owners expect revenues to stay lower for longer.

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