In April 2026, federal retailers announced large-scale regional store openings. The hard discounter chain Monetka (part of Lenta Group) continues its aggressive expansion: in February 2026, the network crossed the milestone of 4,000 stores, opening its anniversary location in Yekaterinburg. The retailer maintains record growth rates and plans to open more than a thousand new stores annually between 2026 and 2028.

In parallel, expansion continued in the premium supermarket segment. The Spar Middle Volga company opened its 50th anniversary EUROSPAR store in Moscow — the new supermarket launched near Belorussky railway station in the AFI Galereya shopping center. The retail sales floor is 660 square meters, with a total premises area of 1,210 square meters, a significant portion of which is dedicated to an in-house production and deli zone. The store is designed for daily traffic of up to 6,000 people and is equipped with 18 self-checkout counters.

Retailchina.pro Expert Commentary: The multi-directional expansion of Russian retail forms two independent sales channels for Chinese FMCG manufacturers. The aggressive growth of hard discounters like Monetka (over 1,000 new locations per year) opens direct opportunities for supplying affordable food imports in large wholesale batches. Conversely, the development of high-traffic EUROSPAR flagships in central Moscow creates a showcase for introducing high-margin Asian products (snacks, beverages, ready-to-eat meals) targeted at the affluent demographic of major cities.