REWE International and LENTA LLC sign purchase agreement for BILLA Russia

REWE International AG is focusing on its international activities in EU markets. “Our strategic target is to achieve in all our markets a top market position and to make use of optimum synergy effects. Taking this into account we constantly examine and adjust our portfolio. The market situation in Russia, size, complexity and development of the retail market do not allow this despite significant investments. That is why we decided to concentrate on EU markets and pool our resources there. This is the logical next step in our full range CEE strategy and new positioning”, says Espen B. Larsen, responsible Board Member of REWE International AG for the full range CEE business unit.

BILLA has been operative in Russia since 2004 and is operating 161 stores in Moscow Oblast with more than 5400 employees – among them 300 in the headquarter and further 300 in logistics.  Jobs, stores and logistic sites will be taken over, the stores will be operated via the brand Lenta.