Lenta

Lenta is a general retail chain which was established in 1999 and is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia. With 248 hypermarkets and 131 supermarkets around the country, Lenta has become the largest retail chain group in Russia. Furthermore, Lenta has diversified its activities by launching a small wholesale business.

In 2020, Lenta achieved a turnover of €5.21 billion, indicating a 7.3% growth compared to the previous year. Food, drinks and household categories represent 90% of the turnover. 44 958 people are now employed by the company.

In 2018, Lenta launched 51 new stores that include 38 hypermarkets and 13 supermarkets. Furthermore, during that same year,  Lenta also launched its mobile application, Lenta Mobile App.

In 2021, the retail group acquired Billa Russia Supermarket Business.

Concerning the hypermarkets, Lenta operates under 3 formats:

• Standard
• Compact
• Supercompact 

The retailer offers a diversified assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, candies, dried fruits, industrial pastries, biscuits,etc.
• Savory Grocery: crisps, spices, pasta, rice, pulses, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice cream, ready meals, burgers, pastries, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: sausage, meat, poultry, charcuterie, seafood, etc.
• Dairy: yoghurt, cheese, milk, cream, etc.
• Drinks: soft drinks, water, fruit juices, energy drinks, beer, wine, champagne, etc.
• Personal Care: hair care, body care, fragrances, hygiene products, face care, etc.
• Household: detergents, softeners, bleach, soap, air fresheners, etc. 

Lenta has recognised that customers are looking for healthy and natural products. In regards to this, the company has set up a Healthy World Section in all its stores. The section features around 1500 references including sugar-free, gluten-free products, natural cosmetics and natural household cleaning products. 

In addition to providing branded products, Lenta also launched its own labels which include (but not limited to):

• Lenta: a range of products including sour cream, cheese, ice cream, frozen cutlets, etc.
• Dolce Alberto: a brand of pasta
• Frelia: a range of non-food items
• Little Times: a range of non-food products
• Bonvida: a range of food items such as olive oil, cheese, frozen seafood, coffee
• Lenta Kids: a brand of sweets and snacks.

For the year 2019, Lenta plans to launch 1300 references under its private labels.

Regarding its references, Lenta sources 93% of its products locally and the remaining are imported. At present, Lenta works with 39 suppliers from abroad.

To ensure that all products are of good quality, Lenta carries out tests. Experts verify that products meet the legislative requirements and that all the packages have the necessary information in Russian. Any products not meeting the requirements are returned to the supplier.

Concerning the logistics, Lenta manages 12 distribution centres. 8 of them are owned by Lenta and the remaining 4 are rented by the firm. Lenta launched a special distribution centre which is dedicated for vegetable storage. This warehouse has the appropriate cooling equipment and is mainly used for winter storage. Lenta also manages a fleet of 330 delivery vehicles. 

Lenta has also been involved in supporting the local community not only through the creation of jobs and by sourcing from local suppliers. The business sponsors various charities and other institutions in the country.