OREANDA-NEWS. On August 22, 2007 the gala opening of the third annual Russia-wide charity program ‘Perekrestok Goes to School!’ was held at the Moscow Palace of Youth. The program is supported by the Department of Education of the City of Moscow and the Government of the City of Moscow, reported the press-centre of Perekrestok. 

This year the ‘Perekrestok Goes to School!’ program will be held in more than 160 of the chain’s stores in forty Russian cities.

Under the program, customers at Perekrestok stores vote for their favorite schools. Schools that receive the most support from customers will be provided with new computer classes, together with the latest in high-tech equipment. They can also win multifunctional devices, televisions, DVD players and interactive platforms. This year, more than 2000 items will be distributed to schools.

The program’s geography is expanding compared to last year. Several new Russian cities and regions have been added this year, including Lipetsk, Voronezh, the Nizhegorodsky region and Ural.

The ‘Perekrestok Goes to School!’ program was launched in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2005. In 2005-2006, 8,400 schools participated in the program. Over 7,9 million customer votes were cast at Perekrestok stores over that period. 606 Moscow and Moscow region schools won prizes under the program. In total, during 2005-2006, more than 2,400 computers, copiers and pieces of video equipment were distributed to schools.

The grand prize of this year’s program will be 12 computer classes, together with the latest in high-tech equipment. Schools that are runners-up traditionally receive computers, multifunctional devices, televisions, DVD players and interactive platforms.

Vladimir Moiseyenko, deputy superintendent of the Department of Education of the City of Moscow, Yuri Kobaladze, X5 Retail Group’s managing director of corporate relations, and other representatives of the Department of Education of the City of Moscow and the organizers attended the opening ceremony.

At the ceremony that marked the program’s official start, Vladimir Moiseyenko, deputy superintendent of the Department of Education of the City of Moscow, said, “It is wonderful that every year the number of participants and winners in the ‘Perekrestok Goes to School!’ program grows and that the program covers more territory. This program is very socially important. Children are the country’s future and therefore our goal is to promote an increase in the quality of education in schools. This includes developing technical equipment at schools to increase the potential and prestige of our nation’s education.”

According to X5 Retail Group’s CEO Lev Khasis, “The chance to make an investment in the development of the Russian educational system is extremely important to us and, I hope, that in the future the ‘Perekrestok Goes to School!’ program will be expanded further, and its participants will include every region in Russia. I’m sure that our initiative will serve as a constructive example for other Russian companies.”

Note to Editors:

X5 Retail Group N.V. is Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales. As of 30 June 2007, the Group had 539 company-managed "Pyaterochka" soft discount stores located in the Moscow (241), St. Petersburg (223) and other Russian areas (75), and 170 company managed "Perekrestok" supermarkets across Central Russia and Ukraine, including 98 stores in Moscow.

As of 30 June 2007, franchisees operated 591 Pyaterochka branded stores across Russia and Kazakhstan.  Perekrestok had 10 stores operated by franchisees in the Moscow area.  

Pyaterochka and Perekrestok have merged their operations as of 18 May 2006 to create the clear leader in the Russian food retail market.  

The Group’s audited pro-forma net sales for the FY 2006 were US $3,551 million, up +50% vs. 2005. Pyaterochka chain provided US $1,973 million of net sales, the Perekrestok chain contributed US $1,496 million of net sales, and Merkado chain contributed US $ 82 million.