Lenta is the largest hypermarket chain in Russia and the country’s third largest retail chain. The Company was founded in 1993 in St. Petersburg. Lenta operates 245 hypermarkets in 88 cities across Russia and 132 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Siberia, Urals and Central regions, with a total of approximately 1,469,687sq.m. of selling space. The average Lenta hypermarket store has selling space of approximately 5,500 sq.m. The average Lenta supermarket store has selling space of approximately 800 sq.m. The Company operates 12 distribution centers.

The Company’s price-led hypermarket formats are differentiated in terms of their promotion and pricing strategies as well as their local product assortment. The Company employed approximately 45,759 people as of 31 December 2018¹.

The Company’s management team combines a mix of local knowledge and international expertise coupled with extensive operational experience in Russia. Lenta’s largest shareholders include Severgroup, which is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. Lenta is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Moscow Exchange and trades under the ticker: ‘LNTA’.

A brief video summary on Lenta’s business and its Big Data initiative can be seen here.

About EMD
European Marketing Distribution AG, with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switze

St. Petersburg, Russia; 14 June 2019 – Lenta, (LSE, MOEX: LNTA) one of the largest retail chains in Russia, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jaap van Vreden, Sourcing and Procurement Director of Lenta, the board member of European Marketing Distribution (EMD), the leading European retail alliance.

As the Board member, Jaap will contribute to the business strategy development of the company as well as secure Lenta advantages from EMD membership. Being part of one of the world largest FMCG purchasing network enables Lenta to enhance its private label range through effective procurement of value-for-money products from international producers. In addition, purchasing activities within EMD open an extra sales channel for Russian suppliers of Lenta’s private label products to access the European market.

EMD Board membership amplifies Lenta opportunities to advance its benefits from contracts sourced by the alliance’s negotiations, including those with producers of high-end brands. Joint procurement with other large European retailers allows Lenta to offer its customers access to an even broader range of quality products at affordable prices.

Lenta’s Chief Executive Officer Herman Tinga commented:
"We are honoured to become the EMD Board member. As the member and shareholder of EMD since 2017, we have enjoyed fruitful results of our cooperation in terms of Lenta unique customer proposition and development of best in class private label ranges. I believe, both Lenta and EMD will extract additional advantages from this new stage of partnership for the benefit of the Russian consumers".

EMD's Managing Director Philippe Gruyters said:
"We are pleased to welcome Jaap van Vreden as the Board member of EMD. With his extensive expertise in procurement, buying and marketing, Jaap will definately bring in valuable knowledge and synergy opportunities for EMD and Lenta".

About Lenta

rland, has been acknowledged since 1989 as an efficient and high-performing partner for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) by the consumer goods industries. The leading associated group operates now together with its member companies in 20 countries in Europe, Oceania and Asia.

The member companies of European Marketing Distribution (EMD) are active in the following markets:

Netherlands: Superunie Sweden: Axfood 
Germany: Markant Denmark: Dagrofa 
Switzerland: Markant Czech Republic: Markant 
Spain: Euromadi Slovakia: Markant 
Portugal: EuromadiPort Poland: Kaufland 
Austria: Markant Croatia: Kaufland 
Italy: ESD Italia Romania: Kaufland 
Norway: Unil/Norgesgruppen Bulgaria: Kaufland 
Australia: Woolworths Russia: Lenta 
South Korea: Homeplus New Zealand: Countdown (Woolworths)

For further information please visit www.lentainvestor.com, or contact:

Lenta 
Maria Filippova
Head of Public Relations and Government Affairs 
Tel.: +7 812 380-61-31 ext.: 1892
E-mail: maria.filippova@lenta.com
NW Advisors
Russian Media
Anton Karpov & Victoria Afonina 
Ňel:+7 495 795 06 23 
E-mail: lenta@nwadvisors.com

¹ FTE (full-time equivalent). Average FTE for FY2018 was 43,283 employees