Rewe Group’s supermarket division Billa in Russia is to acquire the Citistore chain operating 17 retail stores in Moscow.

Citistore, formerly known as Migros Turk’s Ramstore, consists of seven owned and 10 long-term leased stores with a total sales area of 215,000 sq ft. Billa has opened just 72 stores since its market entry in 2004 though the acquisition is seen as a proof for the retailer’s intention to expand in Russia.