Russia's leading retail chain X5 Group has suspended deliveries of certain Mars products to its Pyaterochka and Perekrestok stores, as confirmed by X5 to Kommersant and RBC.
A company spokesperson explained the move stems from Mars' pricing being substantially above market rates, failing to align with "the standards of fair cooperation expected between major market participants."
X5 stated: "We firmly believe unjustified price hikes are unreasonable given consumers' current heightened price sensitivity."
The supply disruption impacts chocolate bars (including Snickers, Twix, Bounty, Mars, and Milky Way), candy-coated chocolates (M&Ms, Skittles), and chewing gums (Orbit, Eclipse).
The retailer indicated existing inventories will last approximately two months, after which alternative products from other manufacturers will be introduced.
Mars' Russian division verified the supply pause, noting ongoing efforts to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.
An RBC source clarified that Mars' pet food brands (Pedigree, Whiskas, Kitekat, Perfect Fit, Sheba, Royal Canin) remain unaffected by this suspension.