The key facts
- About 60 retailers in 2026 are reducing the number of stores — 54% more than in April–June (NF Group data as published by Vedomosti).
- 37 companies operate in the clothing and footwear segment, and 35% of brands decided to close all physical stores.
- Reasons: abandonment of the offline format and financial difficulties; earlier there were reports of alcohol market closures and forecasts for shopping centers.
Number of retailers shrinking their chains grew 54% in a quarter
About 60 retailers in Russia in 2026 decided to reduce the number of stores. This is reported by the newspaper Vedomosti, citing data from the consulting company NF Group. Compared with April–June, the number of companies that began optimizing their portfolio increased by 54%. NF Group did not specify how the indicator changed over the year: the company has been keeping count only since the beginning of 2026.
Who is shrinking chains and why
The study says that, in addition to reducing the number of locations, we are talking about abandoning the offline format and companies facing financial difficulties. Most of the companies that have revised their development strategy operate in the clothing and footwear segment — 37. Four more specialize in home goods, and the same number in cosmetics and perfumery. Three brands operate in the food service sector. The rest are engaged in household appliances and electronics, jewelry, and other goods. NF Group emphasized that 35% of the brands that revised their strategy decided to close all physical stores.
Context: closure of alcohol stores and forecasts for shopping centers
Earlier, Maxim Chernigovsky, head of the alcohol market professionals club, said that the mass closure of alcohol stores in Russia is linked to a combination of factors, including rising prices, online commerce, and the reduction in alcohol consumption by citizens itself. Also, earlier in Russia, a mass closure of shopping centers by the end of 2026 was predicted.
