Marina Karpova — Russian supermarket starts selling food on credit

As Russians struggle to cope with falling incomes, Vladivostok retailer VL-Mart has decided to give its customers the opportunity to buy food on credit, the Vladivostok-based news agency PrimaMedia reported on Feb 12.

The campaign, which according to the VL-Mart data, has already seen 80 people use this option to buy groceries on New Year's Eve, was launched in December 2015. The chain’s clients use this service mainly for buying expensive spirits and snacks, reported

The initiative allows customers to acquire a shopping card worth up to 10,000 rubles ($125) for a period of three months with an interest rate of 3-5 percent. Microloans for VL-Mart customers are provided by VL-Finance, the network's subsidiary.

Russia Beyond the Headlines
Russian supermarket starts selling food on credit
Marina Karpova, Rbth