The Kaliningrad group of companies "Vester" has decided to freeze the expansion of its food stores into Russian regions, the RBC daily newspaper writes today. This year the retailer will launch new outlets only in its native region. The development division of the group will not stop construction in the regions.

According to Oleg Bolychev, co-owner of the company, he does not like the efficiency of stores located outside Kaliningrad. He did not disclose more precise data to understand the situation. O. Bolychev clarified that “now there is no clarity in the country about how the economic situation will develop, and it is incredibly difficult to get loans.” He claims that the interest rate on a bank loan starts at 12%. On average, the loan rate is at around 13-14%. Therefore, the development plans for 2012 include: there are only hypermarkets in their native territories: two objects with an area of 20 thousand and 25 thousand square meters. m are in the design stage.

Today, Vester's grocery division unites more than 50 stores in the cities of Russia and Belarus. The maximum number of points is located in Kaliningrad - almost 30 stores. According to the company itself, at the end of 2010. The retailer's turnover amounted to 12.6 billion rubles, and the turnover indicator from the 1st quarter. m - about 7 thousand dollars per year. The company's debt amounts to 3 billion rubles, of which to Sberbank - 1 billion rubles.

At the same time, the development division of the Kaliningrad group will continue its work in the regions. Currently, Vester is completing the construction of a shopping center in Kaliningrad with an area of 12 thousand square meters. m. Investments in the project amounted to 300 million rubles. In Ulyanovsk and Naberezhnye Chelny, objects with an area of 60 thousand and 50 thousand square meters are being designed. m respectively. Their construction could begin this summer. In these shopping centers, any grocery retailer can act as an anchor tenant.

RBC daily: Kaliningrad retailer Vester has frozen expansion into Russian regions.