Red caviar accounted for 48.5% of sales in Russian retail chains over the year.

Red caviar remains the best-selling product in the "caviar" category in Russian retail FMCG chains, accounting for 48.5% of turnover in monetary terms over the past 12 months. However, the dynamics of its cash sales has stagnated (+0.5% year-on-year). Such data is provided in a study by the Nielsen analytical company, which was made available to Izvestia on October 8.

"We expect sales growth compared to the anti-record 2024 figures. Last year was the worst in Putin's 20 years, with several powerful speculative attacks that sent prices skyrocketing. This year, the situation is better: the harvest is already coming to an end, about 335 thousand tons have been extracted, 42% more than in the whole of last year's harvest," German Zverev, president of VARPE, explained to Izvestia.

According to him, sales dynamics may change by the end of the calendar year, as the main sales season of red caviar is the New Year period. At the same time, as President VARPE continued, in 2025, the projected volume of caviar at the end of the harvest will be 21 thousand tons, which is 31% more than in 2024.

He noted that in terms of price–prestige ratio, red caviar occupies the most profitable marketing niche in Russia, remaining the most popular among consumers. According to VARPE estimates, the volume of the caviar market in the country varies from year to year depending on catch, but on average it is in the range of 17-20 thousand tons, of which two thirds are salmon caviar, and the rest are pike, herring, pollock, capelin, cod and sturgeon.

Zverev clarified that he and his colleagues will talk about what changes are taking place in the Russian red caviar market, what factors influence its sales and where consumers go to buy caviar at the International Fisheries Forum, which will be held on October 22. He clarified that representatives of VARPE will take part in the "Democratic Luxury" session and discuss trends in the caviar category in retail FMCG chains, as well as advise on what to pay special attention to on the eve of the New Year season.

On August 26, representatives of the Fish Union pointed to the recorded decrease in prices for salmon caviar by retail chains. According to the agency, sockeye salmon caviar has fallen in price by 9%, and pink salmon caviar by 2%. It is emphasized that the trend began to be observed at the wholesale level, and this happened due to the successful development of the red Putin.

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