Magnit opens its first franchised store in Siberia

Magnit has opened its first franchised store in Siberia: a Magnit Mini in central Novosibirsk. The chain is now preparing around ten more partner-operated outlets across four cities. For those following Russia’s franchise market, this illustrates how a major retailer is using franchising to expand its geographical reach, including beyond its core operating regions.

First store opens in central Novosibirsk

The new Magnit Mini has opened at 36 Oktyabrskaya Street. The store has a total floor area of 136 square metres. Olesya Yermolenko, Magnit’s director of development and store openings in Siberia, announced the launch at the Retail Days in Siberia forum. Kommersant reported the news on 7 October 2026.

The Novosibirsk outlet is specifically described as the chain’s first franchised store in Siberia. This distinction matters: the news concerns the expansion of its partner programme, not the brand’s first appearance in Siberian cities. The opening is under the compact Magnit Mini format, although future launches will not be limited to this format.

The floor area and address provide details of this particular outlet, but do not in themselves define the terms of the franchise as a whole. Entrepreneurs considering a similar store should separately check the premises requirements, the investment needed and how responsibilities are divided between the partner and the chain. The specifications of one existing outlet should not be assumed to apply to every future project without verification.

Around ten outlets are preparing to open

The next openings are expected in Omsk, Angarsk, Ulan-Ude and Novosibirsk. Around ten outlets are planned in total, spanning neighbourhood grocery stores and the M.Kosmetik format. The announced programme therefore covers both food retail and cosmetics stores.

According to Kommersant, agreements have already been signed with partners in each region. Refurbishment and software installation are nearing completion at the sites. This is not simply a list of cities where the chain hopes to recruit entrepreneurs: the projects described are already being prepared for launch.

However, these roughly ten planned stores should not be counted as outlets already trading. The report describes them as forthcoming openings. No precise opening dates are given for individual locations, so it is more accurate to describe them as the next phase of expansion rather than a completed enlargement of the network.

For prospective partners, this pipeline is of interest because it covers a range of cities and formats. It does not, however, mean that the same partnership option is available in every location. The signed agreements are a reason to discuss a chosen city and potential site directly with the franchisor, rather than relying solely on the general announcement of the programme’s expansion.

Franchising as a route into new regions

One of the main stated aims of Magnit’s partner programme is to enter regions where the chain does not yet have a presence. The company already uses franchising in remote areas. In 2026, for example, it opened four stores in Magadan Region and also entered the market in the Republic of Buryatia.

At the time of the report, Magnit’s franchise programme covered more than 30 outlets. Most were in European Russia, with Krasnodar Territory, Moscow and St Petersburg among the locations named. The Siberian openings extend the geographical reach of this partner network.

It is important to distinguish between two different scales here: the figure of more than 30 outlets refers to the franchise programme, not Magnit’s entire retail network. Similarly, the plans for around ten new stores relate to the cities listed and are not a nationwide forecast of the company’s openings.

For the franchise sector, the key point is the sequence of development: an established partner programme, experience in remote regions, the first announced Siberian outlet and a further wave of stores with signed agreements. This makes it possible to assess expansion through specific milestones, without confusing actual openings with plans or promises of profitability.

What to discuss before joining the network

The announcement was made at Retail Days in Siberia, held in Omsk from 7 to 9 October. Franchising is on the forum’s agenda alongside operational efficiency, data-driven marketing, the use of artificial intelligence solutions and working with online marketplaces.

For entrepreneurs, the practical next step is to discuss not just the brand, but how an individual store would be set up and run. Prospective partners should establish who is responsible for refurbishment, software set-up and preparing the premises for opening, which costs the partner must cover, and how launch schedules are agreed. The choice between a grocery format and M.Kosmetik also warrants a separate discussion: the announced pipeline includes both, so they should not be treated as a single franchise offering.

Practical takeaway: the Novosibirsk opening confirms the expansion of Magnit’s partner programme in Siberia. Prospective franchisees should begin discussions by checking availability in their chosen city, identifying a suitable format and assessing the financial viability of the specific premises, rather than assuming that the first store’s specifications apply universally.