Delivery of prepared meals by Wildberries set to commence in Krasnodar and Sochi
**Wildberries Express Meal Delivery Service Expands Across Russia**
Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries is set to venture into the food delivery sector with the launch of its express meal delivery service, Wildberries Express. Initially available in specific areas of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the service aims to expand to Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, and 11 other cities in the near future.
If successful, Wildberries Express could revolutionize the food delivery landscape in Russia, drawing inspiration from global models such as food delivery apps and subscription meal kits. The company's expansion plans involve rolling out the service in major metropolitan areas before expanding to smaller cities, forming strategic partnerships with existing restaurants or cloud kitchens for rapid scaling, and integrating its existing e-commerce logistics network for efficient meal delivery.
Pricing for the service is expected to be competitive, with meal pricing in line with local food delivery apps, free or low-cost delivery for orders over a certain threshold, and optional meal plans for daily or weekly deliveries. The prices for dishes in the new FoodTech direction will be the same as in "Dostaevskiy"'s menu, a restaurant that has joined the pilot project. The minimum order amount for dishes varies by city, with Moscow residents requiring a minimum order of 550 rubles, and St. Petersburg residents a minimum of 500 rubles.
Wildberries has also announced plans to build an industrial park in Krasnodar to support the new meal delivery service. This park could house centralized kitchens, warehousing for ingredients and meal kit components, and logistics hubs optimized for last-mile delivery.
Elizaveta Shlein, head of Wildberries and Russ' delivery department, has stated that they plan to scale the FoodTech direction across all regions where the company operates. The marketplace will display over 450 items from the delivery service, offering a wide variety of dishes to choose from. The first restaurant to join the pilot project was "Dostaevskiy", and it is expected that more restaurants will follow suit as the service expands.
While there are currently no official announcements or credible reports about Wildberries launching an express meal delivery service, its FoodTech direction could mark a significant step forward for the company and the food delivery industry in Russia. Stay tuned for updates on Wildberries Express and its expansion plans.
With its expansion to Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, and other cities, the Wildberries Express meal delivery service, focused on lifestyle, food-and-drink, and technology, aims to revolutionize the food delivery landscape in Russia. As the service scales up, it will incorporate partnerships with restaurants and cloud kitchens, offering a variety of food options online, just like a tech-driven food marketplace.
