X5 Group closed “Okolo” delivery service

Fast delivery service “Okolo” ceased to exist.  The X5 Group decided that the cost of supporting the aggregator could hinder the development of the operating business model.  The corresponding message was received by the customers who tried to open the “Okolo” app on their mobile devices.

The company noted that now they would be able to pay more attention to the system development of darkstores.  Express delivery from the Pyaterochka and Perekrestok apps, which are part of the X5 ecosystem, is still available.  Customers are also invited to use the “A lot of salmon” service to order ready-made meals.

The aggregator started operating in July 2020.

In less than a year, customers began ordering food from Moscow restaurants.  However, in January 2022, it became known that the company terminated contracts with catering, having made a decision that the delivery conditions were unprofitable and it was unprofitable to conduct such a business.

It seems that the X5 Group company began to get rid of a number of assets according to the plan.  In February 2022, it was reported that Sberbank planned to buy the Vprok.ru Perekrestok service.  The credit institution then states that it was thinking of expanding cooperation with the firm.  If this happens, the service may become part of Sbermegamarket and one of the bank's e-commerce tools.

Today X5 Group continues to be one of the largest Russian retail chains.  As of the end of 2021, the firm operated 19,121 outlets, including Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Chizhik stores.