CONNECT WITH X5 RETAIL GRUP

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, through Prodeca, is organising the event CONNECT WITH X5 RETAIL GRUP (Russia), aimed at Catalan beverage producers.

In the current international context, with limited travel, Prodeca has begun a round of contacts with international retail chains to set up a circuit of product offerings and online meetings with Catalan agrifood companies. These B2B meetings with the sector purchasing heads of Russia's X5 Import Group form part of that. 

RUSSIAN MARKET DATA

With a population of 144 million, Russia is a market that continues to offer interesting opportunities for agrifood products not affected by the sanctions. 

Russia's 2014 embargo on European products (fruit, meat, fish, dairy) significantly affected agri-food exports to Russia. The situation remains unchanged and there is no sign the sanctions will be lifted soon. 

Furthermore, the Russian market retains its potential for exporters of wines, non-alcoholic drinks, olive oil (although 70% of its sales are bulk and/or private label), sauces, pastry and confectionery products, ready meals without animal-origin ingredients, frozen products, vegetable preserves, etc. 

In 2021 the Russian food and drink market is seeing a significant recovery that could have a positive effect on exports. 

Agri-food retail distribution accounts for 50% of all sales in Russia and 16% of national GDP.

SOBRE X5 RETAIL GRUP

X5 Retail Group is the leader in food distribution in Russia. 

It has several supermarket and hypermarket chains across the country. It operates convenience stores under the brand Pyaterochka brand, supermarkets under the Perekrestok brand and hypermarkets under the Karusel, as well as in the online market Perekrestok.ru and others. 

You can find more information at the following links:

• Company presentation (.pdf)  
• Company website (in ENG)
• Wikipedia page (in ENG)

ORGANISATION OF THE EVENT

Prodeca will send X5 Import's purchasing heads the profiles of the Catalan companies interested in taking part. The number of companies per sector will be limited.

X5 Import will select the products and companies that may interest them. The  meetings with the Catalan companies selected by X5 Import will be held online between May and July 2021, taking each party's availability into account.

The meetings will be held in English or Russian. 

No samples are expected to be sent before the meetings.

WHO IT IS AIMED AT

Catalan producers from the following sectors, in which X5 Retail Grup  has expressed interest, may take part:

• Wines and cavas  
• Beers
• Spirits
• Non-alcoholic drinks 
• Olive oil, other vegetable oils  
• Sauces 
• Soups and purées 
• Industrial pastry  
• Frozen cakes  
• Frozen ready meals without animal-origin ingredients
• Frozen foods in general 
• Chocolate, sweets 

This is an indicative list, as other types of products not subject to restrictions in Russia might also interest this company.

Please note that, unfortunately, the Russian market is closed to imports of products from the following sectors originating in the EU:

• Fish
• Fruit
• Meat
• Dairy

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

Some of the requirements X5 Import will consider when selecting companies are:

• Companies with substantial volume, sufficient to ensure regular supply 
• Brands not yet present on the Russian market
• Experience working with national and/or international supermarket chains
• Export experience
• Online sales experience 
• Products and brands that have been successful in the domestic retail market and/or in other countries
• For wines, preference will be given to companies able to carry out cold processing or use electrodialysis (for stabilisation), preferably with their own vineyards 

Note: X5 Retail Grup's payment term is 90 days.

COST OF PARTICIPATION

Participation in this event is free of charge

REGISTRATION AND DEADLINES

Companies interested in taking part in CONNECT WITH X5 RETAIL GRUP (Russia) must complete the registration form and send it to Prodeca before 12 May 2021.

Once registered, they will receive from Prodeca a form with all the information X5 Retail Grup requires regarding the product and company description, which Prodeca will send to X5 Import's sector purchasing heads.  

X5 Retail Grup will select the Catalan companies for the online meetings according to its own criteria and needs, rejecting some companies and accepting others, which is not up to Prodeca.