Major Russian alcohol retailers trim store networks after years of expansion

Several major Russian alcohol retailers have reduced their store counts, according to figures reported by Izvestia and RBC on October 16. The declines affect WinLab, Krasnoe & Beloe, Bristol and Aromatny Mir, but cover different reporting periods.

WinLab had 2,222 stores at the end of September, three fewer than at the end of June. A spokesperson said the chain was improving the efficiency and structure of its existing network in the second half of the year. An Izvestia source close to the chain said it was not considering new sites.

INFOLine figures put the combined Krasnoe & Beloe and Bristol network at 28,253 stores at the end of June, five below its December 2025 total. Closures exceeded openings by 18 stores in the first quarter, followed by a net addition of 13 in the second.

Aromatny Mir had 984 stores at the end of August, down 3.1% year on year, according to A.LIST calculations. Izvestia also cited a source as saying expansion plans for Drinx had been suspended.

A spokesperson for Simple Group, which operates SimpleWine, described a shift towards more selective expansion. The company is prioritising location quality and the efficiency of existing wine shops, the spokesperson said.

A.LIST founder Andrei Moskovsky linked the difficulty of making new stores profitable to competition. Market participants described the decline of independent retail as a source of growth for federal chains. Izvestia estimated the annual decline in independent outlets at almost 8%.

RBC cited the alcohol and tobacco regulator as reporting alcohol sales of 613.5 million decalitres in January–August, down 2% from the same period in 2025.