OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2012. X5 Retail Group N.V., (further, “X5” and/or the “Company”), Russia's largest retailer in terms of revenue (LSE ticker symbol: FIVE), announces that it has successfully passed a certification audit on the basis of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in its Green Perekrestok stores and has received the TUV International Certificate.

Currently, use of the HACCP system in food producing companies in the EU, USA and Canada is mandatory. The system is based on the Codex Alimentarius developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). HACCP provides a systemic approach to analyzing food production processes, revealing dangerous factors and determining critical control points necessary to prevent the supply of dangerous food products to consumers.

Eleven Green Perekrestok stores operating in Moscow provide more than 160 types of ready food products (ready meals, delicatessen, bread and bakery products). Successful results of the TUV International Certification audit of the supermarkets confirm that the management system in the chain meets the highest international standards.

TUV International Certification provides for regular audits on the basis of the HACCP during three years.

Svetlana Chebarova, Director for Quality, X5 Retail Group N.V., commented:

“Our long and thorough work in the Company led to successful audit results of our stores. Receiving the TUV International Certificate and implementing the HACCP system guarantee our customers food product safety.”

Mikhail Susov, Corporate Relations Director, Retail Group N. V., commented:

“X5 has very high requirements either for its suppliers or for its stores. Production of ready meals is a complicated process for each employee of the store, from the cook to the salesperson and director. We are happy to see that the level of management and professionalism in producing high quality ready meals in Green Perekrestok stores corresponds not only to customers’ preferences, but also to high international standards.”