Russian hypermarket O’Key has launched a grocery ecommerce operation which will initially involve a click-and-collect service.

O'Key is launching an online grocery proposition

O’Key managing director of ecommerce Elena Remenikov said it is logical to launch an ecommerce proposition because it does not require additional retail space or further staffing costs.

The ecommerce site will sell groceries alongside household cleaning products, cosmetics, pet products, games, toys and electrical products.

Customers who place an order will have 24 hours to collect their products.

Remenikov said online trading is one of the key ways to allow customers to save money and time.

In the future the retailer plans to deliver orders to homes and offices, expand the range covered by the service and open new locations to fulfil orders in regions beyond Moscow.

O’Key is putting in place an ecommerce proposition in order to be fully prepared when the Russian ecommerce market begins to grow rapidly.

At present only a small proportion of FMCG sales in Russia are made online. As a result, O’Key believes it can make serious progress within the market and it predicts ecommerce sales in Russia will grow significantly.