Big Russian retailer forecasting stable growth of Russia's seafood market
Mosmart, one of federal large retail chains, has been paying increasing attention to seafood products in its range due to a growing demand from consumers, according to Deputy General Director of ZAO Mosmart (closed JSC) Semyon Slutsky speaking at the respective forum of WorldFood Moscow 2007.
The range of seafood products currently on sale in the chain's stores includes:
- Live river fish - 10 items;
- Chilled sea fish - 30 items;
- Chilled river fish - 20 items;
- Processed (hot and cold smoked, lightly salted, dry-cured, dried and preserved fish) - 200 items;
- Other than finfish sea products - 50 items
- Caviar and roe products from salmon, small marine species and river fish - 40 items.
The company's total fish range includes 35% of chilled sea and river fish and 30% of processed fish.
According to Slutsky, the annual seafood consumption in Russia is estimated at 10-15 kilos per capita, while for comparison, Spain annually consumes 40 kilos and Japan consumes ca.70 kilos per capita. In the situation, the Russian market has been displaying an obvious growing trend with the rates of 15-20% per year and in the future the market potential is forecasted to double or even triple.
Note
According to Rosstat, per capita fish consumption in Russia in 2006 has exceeded 16 kilos.
Annual per capita consumption of fish in Russia
Towns | Villages | TOTAL | ||||
2005 | 2006 | 2005 | 2006 | 2005 | 2006 | |
Live and frozen finfish and non-finfish species | 10.73 | 10.94 | 11.02 | 10.75 | 10.81 | 10.89 |
Salted, smoked and dried finfish and non-finfish species | 3.24 | 3.21 | 3.87 | 4.00 | 3.41 | 3.42 |
Canned fish | 1.77 | 1.80 | 1.29 | 1.26 | 1.64 | 1.65 |
Convenience fish and ready-to-eat fish | 0.55 | 0.56 | 0.29 | 0.26 | 0.48 | 0.48 |
TOTAL consumption in round weight | 16.87 | 17.09 | 16.90 | 16.68 | 16.88 | 16.98 |
Sea full details of consumption trends at http://www.fishnet-russia.com/issues/docs/consumption_eng/39.html.