By the close of 2022, the count of press pavilions and kiosks in Russia had fallen by 7.3 percent, and the downturn continued into the first quarter of 2023. This trend was noted by the business daily Kommersant, which cited data from the Association of Printing Industry Enterprises (SPPI GIPP). The shrinking footprint of physical outlets for print products reflected broader shifts in consumer behavior, logistical changes, and policy impacts on printed media distribution.
The retreat of press kiosks persisted through 2022, with more than one thousand fewer outlets than the year before. The decline intensified in early 2023, a pattern clearly visible in regions that previously hosted dense networks of kiosks. In Astrakhan, for instance, the local press infrastructure was reduced to zero, illustrating a dramatic regional shift in how printed materials are made available to readers.
At the start of the year, Russia reported a little over 13,200 retail outlets selling printed products. While overall numbers trended downward, some regions saw openings that helped to slightly offset losses. A notable portion of new kiosks appeared in the Moscow region, where 121 new outlets were established. Kaliningrad followed with 113 openings, and the Udmurt Republic entered the list of top regional growth areas with 84 new press kiosks. These openings often reflected aggressive discounting strategies and targeted investments to maintain visibility for printed materials in select markets.
Industry insiders attributed the retreat in kiosks to a combination of lease non-renewals and rising rental costs, which squeezed the economic viability of small, fixed retail points. To counteract shrinking traffic, experts suggested broadening the product mix offered at kiosks beyond traditional newspapers and magazines. Expanding into adjacent goods such as tobacco products or food items was proposed as a way to attract more customers and sustain footfall in a changing retail landscape.
In another development aimed at stabilizing the distribution of domestic products, an official recommendation was issued to organize kiosk activity around goods produced domestically. The emphasis was on installing kiosks at shopping malls and near store entrances to improve access to local brands and support national production. This strategic shift highlights a broader policy objective to adapt traditional distribution channels to evolving market conditions while preserving convenient access to printed media and related merchandise. (Source: Kommersant, SPPI GIPP attribution)