Sights set on Moscow

A start is to be made on the construction of several K-rauta stores in the Russian capital, Moscow, during this current year. This was revealed to the Russian business paper "Vedomosti" by a top manager of the Finnish parent group Kesko. The aim is to achieve in Moscow something approaching the same market density as in St Petersburg, where the company currently operates nine stores and plans one further opening for 2011.
In view of the price of land, which has fallen by 50 per cent, industry insider Michail Kokoritsch believes that the capital city is still a region of interest to the DIY segment in spite of strong competition.