Russia's X5 Retail Group, which operates the Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, and Karusel retail chains, has acquired food tech company Mnogo Lososya for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will see the retailer enter the dark kitchen segment of the food market. The move is in line with its strategy to cater to customers' food-related needs, particularly by expanding its product offering in the fast-growing ready-to-eat segment.
Food Tech Project
Mnogo Lososya, a food tech project started by Yakov Mendeleev and Alexander Mutovin, operates a chain of dark kitchens and a number of online eating-out brands.
Currently, the project runs 25 kitchens; the brands Mnogo Lososya, Ten Ideal Pizzas, Rolls No. 1, and YAJI; a mobile app, and a software suite that supports its key business processes, including food cooking and delivery.
The acquisition will see X5 gain ownership of the Mnogo Lososya franchise and the team that founded and developed the project.
Mnogo Lososya delivers over 60,000 orders per month through its partners, Delivery Club and Yandex.Eats, as well as its own courier service.
'Vertical Integration'
Igor Shekhterman, CEO of X5 Retail Group, said, "We have been consistently building a vertical integration of production and sales channels in our Ready Food business. Our Kitchen Factory in the Moscow metropolitan area now includes a dark kitchen.
"While this segment currently accounts for just 5% of the ready-to-eat meals delivery market, its growth rates are outpacing other online HoReCa segments and dark kitchens are expected to gain traction going forward."
Shekhterman added that the acquisition would allow the retailer to be "well-positioned" to cater to customers' needs for rapid delivery of freshly cooked meals and offer the "unique combination of groceries and ready-to-eat meals through X5's delivery services." [Pic: ©Blinow61/123RF.COM]
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
