Russian Retailer Acquires Stake in Digital Firm to Boost Automation

Amid rising online sales, Russian grocery chain VkusVill has acquired a stake in a longtime IT partner to strengthen control over critical digital infrastructure.

Russian retailer VkusVill has completed the acquisition of several companies from the Avtomakon Group, a key player in the country’s retail tech scene. The purchase includes Avtomakon itself, along with its subsidiaries DataLab and Fullstack—firms that have worked on VkusVill’s digital infrastructure for more than a decade.

The move reflects a growing trend among major retail chains in Russia: investing directly in IT assets to retain full control over mission-critical technologies. With over 50 percent of VkusVill’s sales now occurring online, automation and digital tools are central to the business strategy.

Avtomakon specializes in retail automation, warehouse robotics, and mobile app development. With the backing of VkusVill, the firm is expected to double down on its focus on next-gen digital transformation.

This acquisition comes against the backdrop of rapid digitalization in Russian retail. According to CNews Analytics, the top 20 IT vendors in the retail space brought in 113 billion rubles in revenue in 2024—a 30 percent year-over-year increase. Avtomakon emerged as one of the sector’s top performers, posting a staggering 160 percent revenue growth.