Rustam Minnikhanov: For us, retail chains are important, they allow us to present our products on the shelves of the republic and promote in other regions
President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Zyabbarov took part in a conference dedicated to the expansion of cooperation between X5 Retail Group and Tatarstan producers. The event took place on the territory of the Kazan International Equestrian Complex.
Before the start of the conference, Rustam Minnikhanov, Marat Zyabbarov and CEO of X5 Retail Group Igor Shekhterman examined the exposition of Tatarstan suppliers. Dairy products, cheeses, butter, ice cream, goose and duck meat products, sausages, bread, confectionery and other food products of the Tatarstan enterprises ZMK, Azbuka Syra, Ramayevskoe, Tatspirtprom, VAMIN Tatarstan "," Camembert "and others.
Welcoming the conference participants, including those who joined via video mode, Rustam Minnikhanov noted the level of cooperation between Tatarstan and X5 Retail Group.
“Tatarstan and X5 have a long-standing partnership. More than 700 company stores operate in our republic. In the last 2 years, 2 new distribution centers have been launched. Over 12 thousand jobs have been created, 550 more jobs will appear in the near future. Investments exceeded 13 billion rubles. An agreement on cooperation will be signed today, we will continue active joint work, ”the President of Tatarstan said.
Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan producers fully cover the population's demand for basic types of food products. There are a number of enterprises producing non-food groups of goods. He noted that during the pandemic, there were no disruptions in the delivery of products in the republic, local suppliers fulfilled all their obligations.
“Today more than 100 of our enterprises supply their products to X5 stores, about a third of the goods sold in Tatarstan networks are produced in the republic. Many of our companies are ready to start cooperating with X5 or expand the existing range and geography of supplies. It is quite difficult to produce something, but selling is even more difficult. For us, retail chains are important, they allow us to present our products on the shelves of the republic and promote them in other regions. It is necessary to clearly structure this work. Both the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food should be involved here, it is necessary to organize work with small businesses. It is necessary to meet from time to time, to sum up the results, "Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized.
During the conference, CEO of X5 Retail Group Igor Shekhterman and CEO of the Pyaterochka retail chain Sergey Goncharov spoke about market development trends, as well as the strategy of X5 and Pyaterochka. Local producers were introduced to the company's approaches to assortment formation and the introduction of new positions, talked about interaction in the production of goods under its own brand name, stimulating demand, customer-oriented marketing and requirements for food products.
Also during the conference, an agreement on cooperation was signed between the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan represented by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and X5 Retail Group represented by Chief Executive Officer Igor Shekhterman. The company will continue to open new stores in the region, providing jobs for residents, use Russian and Tatar in store navigation and actively interact with local manufacturers. The Government of Tatarstan, within the limits of its powers, will promote the development of retail trade, the opening of new logistics facilities, as well as facilitate the activities of X5 as part of the implementation of the company's sustainable development strategy.