The megamarket has inked a deal with Gazprombank to lease the retail space that became available after IKEA stepped back from Russia. This information comes from a report by TASS, citing the marketplace’s press service.
The scope covers all IKEA premises totaling 400,743 square meters across 14 Mega shopping centers located in 11 Russian regions. The arrangement signals a broad, strategic reallocation of retail footprint within the country’s large-format shopping ecosystem.
IKEA paused its sales in Russia in March 2022 amid the Ukraine conflict. In June of that year, the company announced nationwide reductions and the sale of several local manufacturing facilities. Gazprombank Group subsequently acquired the Mega shopping mall chain from Ingka Centers. Reports also indicated IKEA decided to liquidate one of its Russian entities, Ikea Purchasing Services Rus LLC. These moves reflect a wider realignment of ownership and operations among international retailers in the Russian market.
In February 2024, Russian companies and businesspeople explored parallel import channels for IKEA products, signaling attempts to maintain product availability despite sanctions and supply-chain disruptions. This shift points to a broader trend of localization and alternative sourcing within the consumer goods sector.
Early March saw the Megamarket brand opening anew, with sales launched for both domestic and foreign brands. The brand expansion coincided with renewed consumer activity and a refreshed assortment across categories, aiming to capture demand across urban centers.
On April 2, the Telegram channel NN reported notices in the Russian market about rising prices for electronics imported from abroad, indicating ongoing price pressures driven by import dynamics and currency movements. This development highlights how import dependencies continue to shape pricing strategies in large retail settings.
Earlier, Sberbank announced a substantial update to its loyalty program, signaling continued investment in customer engagement as the retail landscape evolves. These developments together outline a period of significant transition for retailers and shoppers alike in the region.
Source attributions: (Source: TASS), (Source: Gazprombank press release), (Source: NN Telegram channel). Data points reflect reported actions and market signals as observed in the cited outlets.