Azbuka Vkusa

Azbuka Vkusa, known in English as Alphabet of Taste, is a leading premium supermarket chain in Russia, founded in 1997 by Maxim Koscheenko and Oleg Lytkin. The first store opened in Moscow, and the company has since expanded to become one of the top high-end food retailers, recognized among Russia's 200 largest private companies by Forbes and top 100 employers by HeadHunter.

The chain operates a diverse portfolio of store formats primarily in Moscow, the Moscow region, and St. Petersburg. As of recent data, it includes approximately 172 stores: 104 Azbuka Vkusa supermarkets, 60 AV Daily minimarkets (convenience stores), 5 AV Market hypermarkets, and 3 Enoteca boutiques specializing in wines. Supermarkets typically range from 300–800 m², offering an extensive assortment of over 18,000 SKUs from 900 manufacturers across 70 countries, with more than 1,000 private-label products produced in-house.

Azbuka Vkusa emphasizes high-quality food, drinks, and gourmet items, including ready-to-eat meals, sushi, freshly baked bread, eco-products, and premium alcohol. It leads Russian food retailers in sales per square meter and features its own culinary production certified to ISO 22000 standards, a farm in the Kaluga region, and the AV Grand-Cafe restaurant. The company supports an omni-channel model with the online store at av.ru, enabling seamless shopping for ingredients, recipes, and delivery.

In 2020, the network generated revenue of 75.2 billion rubles (approximately 900 million EUR), reflecting strong performance in the premium segment. Strategic locations in premium districts ensure high customer loyalty among discerning shoppers seeking luxury groceries, prepared foods, and beauty-related products like high-end cosmetics in select aisles.

• Key strengths: Premium positioning, own production, and innovative services like biometric payments and demand-based pricing.
• Expansion focus: Continued growth in flagship stores, such as the 2025 24-hour luxury supermarket in Moscow and the 2020 Nevsky Prospekt flagship in St. Petersburg.

Azbuka Vkusa appeals to manufacturers and suppliers in food, beverages, and beauty categories by offering access to affluent customers through its dense network of upscale outlets and robust online platform, backed by a reputation for quality and discovery in gourmet retail.