X5 creating pharma marketplace based on Perekrestok.ru online store
MOSCOW. June 19 (Interfax) - X5 Retail Group will to develop a pharmaceutical marketplace based on the Perekrestok.ru online store.
The Russian food retailer said in a statement that it was entering into a partnership involving X5 subsidiary OMNI, Perekrestok Online and Santens Service Group to deliver the project.
A special section of Perekrestok.ru will be devoted to products from pharmaceuticals producers: apteka.perekrestok.ru. This enable customers to order medicines directly from manufacturers. Orders can be paid for and collected at pharmacy pick-up points in X5 retail stores. X5 OMNI, which is developing the company's technology platform for parcel delivery, has already made arrangements to open 1,400 pharmacy pick-up points at X5 stores. Santens will handle the supply chain logistics to ensure delivery to pick-up points.
"The share of online shopping in the pharmacy segment is rising, and our customers are increasingly looking for specific medicines. We are interested in having the product range offered by Russia's leading pharmaceuticals operator in our online store, without having to invest in logistics infrastructure: Santens will be responsible for processing, assembling, sorting and delivering orders to pharmacy pick-up points at X5 retail stores," said Leonid Dovladbegyan, Director for Strategy and E-commerce Development at Perekrestok Supermarkets.