OREANDA-NEWS  By the end of 2025, the number of alcohol markets in Russian cities with a population of more than a million people decreased by seven percent, to 14.3 thousand outlets. Kommersant writes about this with reference to the data of the 2GIS service.

Back in 2024, the number of such stores increased by two percent, but now the largest retail chains are facing a slowdown in business growth.

Andrey Moskovsky, President of the Alcopro Guild, explained that a significant part of the closed outlets were engaged in the wine trade. However, given the falling assortment and the rising cost of products, wine boutiques have stopped competing with supermarkets.

Alexander Lipilin, Executive Director of Fort wine trading company, recalled that the increase in excise taxes and other expenses led to an increase in cost for all participants in the supply chain. Stores have to give up a certain number of positions and reduce the number of suppliers, as a result of which their advantage is lost.

According to Moskovsky, the situation was also affected by regional restrictions on alcohol trade, which are becoming more stringent. With wage indexation and higher taxes, businesses are losing interest in the market. Lipilin expects that the number of alcohol markets will continue to decline in 2026.

As previously reported, last year the production of breweries with a strength of 0.5 percent to 8.6 percent in Russia fell for the first time in several years. Against this background, the total revenues of Chinese companies from beer exports to Russia increased 1.4 times.