A supermarket chain, which has been dubbed the ‘Russian Lidl’, is looking to open up branches in Scotland.
Mere is seeking to open a series of supermarkets across the UK and hopes to compete against Aldi and Lidl, in addition to the Big Four.
The company claims it will undercut existing UK discounters by 20%-30%, thanks to a no-frills model that sees suppliers deliver directly to stores and just eight employees per branch.
The firm has published a wish list of areas where it would like to open in the future - with south Scotland included.
Bosses are currently on the hunt for landlords to help with the supermarket’s UK expansion.
It is looking for sites of around 10,000 square feet, with parking spaces for 30-40 cars and a local population of 60,000 or more.
A notice on its website reads: “We are looking for suitable locations across UK to expand our retail chain.
“At the moment, despite coronavirus, we are actively involved with landlords, their representatives and agents with the aim to open our Mere retail stores ASAP.”
The first set of its stores are set to open in Preston, Lancashire, next month, according to The Grocer.
Mere, which is known locally in Russia as Svetofor, was first established in 2009 in Krasnoyarsk in Siberia.
The firm describes itself as a “major operator in the low-price segment” that acts in a “simple and customer-centred manner”.
They also sell a “diverse range of high quality products” and supplies “fresh products”.
It has around 3,200 stores across the globe and has been opening in Europe since 2018 - with stores in the likes of Germany, Poland and Romania.
Mere is also looking to expand in Italy, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria.
The supermarket chain’s head of buying, Pavels Antonovs, told trade magazine The Grocer: “We are a gap in the market. We don’t have any competitors. Our model is no service and no marketing.”
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