Book depot, Taste Book, now under Magnit's ownership
Breaking News: Magnit to Snatch Azbuka Vkusa Stores, Report Suggests
Looks like Magnit is about to conquer the Russian retail market with the proposed acquisition of Azbuka Vkusa! Here's the deal tea:
Magnit, the supermarket titan, plans to scoop up 171 Azbuka Vkusa stores, which include 107 supermarkets, 59 mini-markets, and five hypermarkets. Boosting thebeat in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, these stores are a tasty addition to Magnit's empire[1].
What's more, the deal comes with some extra delicious perks: five culinary, bakery, and confectionery production facilities, three distribution centers, and logistics infrastructure that spans 47,000 sq.m in Moscow and St. Petersburg[1]. Some people might say, "Oh my gosh, that sounds like a mouthwatering deal!"
Wanna know the juicy part? Magnit will hold onto the Azbuka Vkusa brand and keep the key management team in place[1]. There's also a sneaky idea of having Magnit representatives involved in Azbuka Vkusa's strategic management[1].
But what's the worth of this delectable deal? According to some analysts, it's estimated around 35-40 billion rubles ($370–420 million), depending on exchange rates[2][3]. That's a chunky sum for sure!
Hold up, you might be thinking, "Hey, Azbuka Vkusa has been up for grabs for a while now. Who were the interested parties before Magnit?" Well, let me spill the beans:
- Back in 2021, Yandex had a taste for Azbuka Vkusa, aiming to blend it with Yandex.Lavka for some synergistic sweetness[2].
- Severstal, owned by Alexey Mordashov, tossed a 40 billion ruble offer in 2019 and early 2025[2].
This acquisition is still subject to approval from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and some other conditions[1]. Parties involved are hoping this deal will strengthen Magnit's premium retail game while Azbuka Vkusa maintains its brand and management[4].
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sources:
- RBC (https://www.rbc.ru/business/29/06/2022/5fce6dfe9a7947adbe13708a)
- Vedomosti (https://www.vedomosti.ru/industry/articles/2022/06/28/8924476-kupit-azbuka-vkusa-magnit-planirovat-30)
- Infoline-Analytics (http://infoline.spb.ru/Attachment/80505)
- Gazprombank (https://corporate.gazprombank.ru/ru/expertise/razmyshleniya/articles/magnet-uspechaet-prisvojit-sovmunikacioniy-myasoostav-azbuka-vkusa)
- The acquisition of Azbuka Vkusa stores by Magnit in 2022 is projected to strengthen Magnit's premium retail game in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, with a total of 171 stores including supermarkets, mini-markets, and hypermarkets.
- Along with the store acquisition, Magnit will gain five culinary, bakery, and confectionery production facilities, three distribution centers, and logistics infrastructure, all spanning 47,000 sq.m in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
- The deal, estimated around 35-40 billion rubles ($370–420 million), involves Magnit keeping the Azbuka Vkusa brand and management team in place, with possible Magnit representation in Azbuka Vkusa's strategic management.
- The acquisition is subject to approval from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and other conditions, following several previous attempts by parties such as Yandex and Severstal in 2021 and early 2025, respectively.
