Planet Retail 9 Jul 2008

Speaking at a recent conference, the marketing manager of Carrefour Romania, Andreaa Mihai, has said that the share of modern retail in the overall Romanian retail sector is to rise to 50% in 2010 from 39% in 2007. In Bucharest, modern retail accounts for 70% of the retail market, added Mihai. "'In 2008, in Romania, a number of 74 hypermarkets are operational, together with 88 supermarkets, 152 discount stores and 40 cash & carries. The store chains will continue their expansion in 2008 to zones with a low buying power, leading to a reduction in turnover per square metre.

fruitnet.com 03 July 2008

An agreement has been reached between retailers and producers over a government proposal to help keep food prices stable.

Under the government proposal, producers will have more flexibility in setting food prices, something that is usually dictated by large retailers.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with several companies of RTL Holdings Group, which will expand access to modern retail services in Belarus. The investment will help the company develop its wholesale and distribution system and expand the Rubliovskiy supermarkets network in the country's six regional capital cities. This will allow local consumers to access a more diverse selection of high-quality, affordable foods.

IFC's USD 7 million long-term loan facility, together with a USD 19 million subordinated loan will help RTL Holdings to build six warehouses and 20 new supermarkets throughout Belarus between 2008 and 2012.

Ukraine - 11/06/2008. Fructidor.com and www.lol.org.ua

News of growth of Ukrainian trade of fruit and vegetables passing through the Shuvar wholesale market. The share of Shuvar market in the national fruit & vegetable trade is explained by the "thoughtful strategy of the market development with the account to the experience accumulated by the wholesale markets of the other countries", and, the specifics of the region. This market "provides the whole complex of services to its clients". The Shuvar market "is created in the innovative format of the regional agrarian center". "National and international supermarket chains show a steady interest to the location of their logistics platforms and distribution centers on the territory of the market."

16-May-2008 Food&DrinkEurope.com

Nestlé announced at a meeting held in Moscow last week that it is aiming for accelerated growth in Central and Eastern Europe.

Bernard Meunier, Head of the Nestlé market for Russia and Eurasia, confirmed in his presentation that the company has strong market positions in Russia: number 1 in the chocolate market and number 2 in ice-cream.

Planet Retail 2 May 2008

According to unconfirmed reports in the Polish press, retailers such as Tesco and Carrefour have suspended investments in the country as the law on large-surface stores (WOH) has not yet been abolished. The ruling coalition declared before the elections that it would withdraw the law, which was passed by the previous parliament and limited the building of stores larger than 400 square metres. However, the law is still valid, even though there have been no specific regulations issued, which blocks permission applications and makes expansion by both foreign and Polish companies difficult.

Planet Retail 7 Mar 2008

Romanian food unions have accused supermarket chains of anti-trade practices which have cut their profits. An inquiry has been set up to address the high cost of listing fees, promotional services etc. They are also complaining about conditions in contracts which do not allow producers and manufacturers to supply other shops at cheaper prices. The unions have asked for a "code of good trade practice" for the supermarkets, which should be approved by the Competition Authority, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance. They also threatened to take the issue to the European Parliament, as well as to the European Commission.

Foodproductiondaily.com. 20-Feb-2008

Russia-based Wimm-Bill-Dann has announced the opening of what it calls a $12m mega dairy farm outside of St. Petersburg as part of a wider focus on stepping up the supply of high quality milk for its operations.

Planet Retail 8 Jan 2008

A1 Group, a subsidiary company of the Alfa Group (which owns X5 Retail Group), and Finance Corporation IFC are is going to launch a supermarket store network in Belarus. As the A1 Group project manager Alexander Vinogradov has stated, the company plans to launch 128 soft discount supermarkets by 2010, with an investment of USD83 million. The stores will have an average sales area of 500 square metres and will be located in the cities of Minsk, Brest, Gomel and Vitebsk.

Planet Retail 8 Jan 2008

The head of the Latvian Traders Association (LTA), Henriks Danusevics, has said that Wal-Mart is not going to launch in the country for the time being and is focussing on other new EU member states, for example, Bulgaria and Slovenia, as well as Serbia.