OREANDA-NEWS. On September 12, 2007, the Retail Grand Prix Award ceremony was held in Moscow during Retail Director, the largest retail summit in Russia. The Grand Prix is sponsored by BBPG, with the support from the World Retail Congress and the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT), X5 Retail Group's press-service announced.

The Retail Grand Prix 2007 is a new project for the Russian retail industry. Its goal is to rate companies that successfully develop strategically important trends for the sector, as well as recommend nominees for the World Retail Awards, which is the most prestigious international award in the retail industry.

X5 Retail Group was named the winner of the “Corporate Responsibility” category for its social program “Perekrestok Goes to School” and “A Minute for Life,” a program within the framework of X5’s partnership with the Liniya Zhizni (Life Line) charity fund.

This year, for the first time, professionals in the sector rated their own colleagues. The Expert Council for the Grand Prize consisted of owners and CEOs of the largest retail chains in Russia. The nominees and winners were announced in two sections: Retail Companies and Business Partners.

During his acceptance speech, X5 Retail Group’s CEO Lev Khasis said, “Unfortunately, in our country the state can’t always help everyone in need. Therefore, I believe that this role should be taken up, at least in part, by large commercial structures. Working in a society while remaining separate from it is impossible. We very much hope that our initiative will serve as an example for other companies, and not only in our sector.”

Winning an award in the Retail Grand Prix 2007 gives X5 an opportunity to become a nominee for the prestigious World Retail Awards that will be held in Barcelona in 2008. Russian Retail Grand Prix is officially supported by this international institute.