Intertop Russia
10.07.2012 5719

Intertop Russia

Intertop, the largest shoe retail operator in Ukraine, enters the Russian market. As it became known, the company already has a representative office in the country, and by the end of the year it expects to open the first five stores there. The Russian market is several times larger than the Ukrainian one, and, unlike the latter, shows sales growth. However, in Russia, “Intertop” is deprived of one of the advantages that it has in its home market - exclusive rights to sell shoes under the Ecco and Geox brands, market participants say.

A source at MTI (operated by Intertop) told about the plans of the Intertop network regarding entering Russia on condition of anonymity. According to the interlocutor, a representative office of the company is already operating in Russia. MTI Group President Vladimir Tsoi confirmed that the company has plans for development in Russia. “But we will not comment on them before the opening of the first stores,” he said.

By the end of the year, Intertop plans to open five stores in Russia, said Alexandra Chirkayeva, deputy director of the retail space department of the consulting company Jones Lang LaSalle (searches for space for the company) in Russia. Intertop is now actively looking for retail space. And not only in Moscow, but also in the regions, such as Krasnodar. The company is interested in renting shops with an area of ​​450-600 sq. m (about the same Ukrainian stores have) in shopping centers, ”she added. The Russian office of Colliers International is also looking for space for Intertop. “They have ambitious plans - the company expects to build a network in Russia comparable in size to their business in Ukraine,” said Galina Maliborskaya, director of the retail real estate department at Colliers in Russia.

In Ukraine, MTI is already a leader in footwear retail, says Dmitry Ermolenko, co-owner of the Maratex chain (develops OVS, Esprit, Aldo, River Island networks in Ukraine and Russia). The company has been operating in the footwear market since 1993 and unites more than 250 stores under the signs of Intertop, Kidditop, Plato, Ecco, Geox, Clarks, Marc O`Polo, Timberland, Vagabond, Skechers, Camper, Braska and others. Intertop is well represented in Kiev and regional centers. It is unprofitable to enter the regional markets of Ukraine in the current conditions, ”said Mr. Ermolenko.

Entering Russia is the right decision of the company, the footwear market there is several times larger in volume than the Ukrainian one, and it is recovering faster after the crisis, says Dmitry Ermolenko. According to his estimates, in the first half of the year, the growth in sales in the footwear market of the Russian Federation did not exceed 6% on average compared to the first half of 2011, and by the end of the year, as the research company Euromonitor International predicts, the growth should be 17%, to $ 25,5 billion. In Ukraine, the market capacity is estimated much more modestly - $ 1,78 billion in 2010 (Euromonitor did not make a forecast for this year). “In Ukraine, depending on the segment, sales in the first half of the year did not grow or even fell by 5%,” the expert clarifies.

However, in Russia, Intertop is deprived of one of its advantages, which it enjoys in its home market. The company's strong position in the Ukrainian market was ensured, in particular, by exclusive contracts for the sale of footwear from Ecco, Geox and others, explains Andrey Makarov, deputy general director of the Ultra chain of stores. In Russia, the rights to sell Ecco footwear, in particular, are now held by the EKKO-ROS company. Now the chain has 185 stores. The newspaper "Kommersant" writes about this.

Intertop, the largest shoe retail operator in Ukraine, enters the Russian market. As it became known, the company already has a representative office in the country, and by the end of the year it expects to open there ...
5
1
Rating

Latest News

Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags unveils new logo

The Italian international exhibition of footwear and bags Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags has updated its corporate identity and presented a new logo.
18.07.2025 147

Bottega Veneta Releases New Orbit Sneakers With Thinnest Soles

The Orbit Flash is a low-top lace-up sneaker made from soft suede and lightweight nylon with an ultra-thin sole and comes in three colorways including black, navy, light blue and yellow, and…
18.07.2025 178

Loro Piana under judicial supervision over worker exploitation case

LVMH-owned Italian luxury brand Loro Piana is under judicial supervision for one year over allegations of worker exploitation and inadequate supply chain controls, writes…
18.07.2025 274

New Balance Releases New Collaboration With Salehe Bembury

Photos have emerged of a new collaboration between New Balance and New York designer Saleh Bembury, a luxury streetwear designer who is vice president of sneakers and men's footwear at Versace…
17.07.2025 299

Converse Expects CEO Change

Jared Carver, CEO and president of the Converse brand, will step down after two years in the role. He will be replaced by Nike veteran Aaron Kane, who has been with the sportswear giant for more than 20 years and is vice president and…
17.07.2025 296
When you sign up, you will receive weekly news and articles about the shoe business on your e-mail.

To the beginning