A new collaboration is in the works as VkusVill partners with Blagoveshchensk-based Do.bro Coffee to roll out a fresh coffee concept. The brand has been named Together, according to Kommersant.
Initial openings will occur in a limited test format, with a broader rollout decided after evaluating initial results and consumer response.
Officials noted that the upcoming cafes will operate independently from VkusVill stores, and no further specifics about the Together project were shared at this stage.
Industry observers warn that the coffeehouse market remains highly competitive, suggesting that entering now could be challenging. Launching venues under its own media umbrella might offer VkusVill strategic advantages in branding and customer reach.
Commentator Yulia Koroleva, a registered restaurateur, noted that large chains are expanding franchise programs and crowding out smaller, more intimate cafes. She added that the segment is likely to grow despite tougher conditions, and that Birlik is pursuing opportunities amid strong competition.
In related industry chatter, there was speculation about how much the price of packaged coffee has risen over the past year and what pressures cocoa shortages could place on the global chocolate market. Analysts remind readers that commodity dynamics, including cocoa supply disruptions in Africa, can ripple through consumer goods pricing and availability.