OREANDA-NEWS. October 25, 2012. X5 Retail Group N.V., (“X5” or the “Company”), Russia's largest retailer in terms of sales (LSE ticker symbol: FIVE), announced today that its Middle Volga branch has won the Best Retailer in the Region Award at the 3rd Inter-Regional Trade Congress (the “Congress”) of the Samara Region. The X5 branch was selected from 15 national and regional companies operating in the region.

The Congress was supported by Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Administration of the Samara Region and the Ministry of Economic Development, Investment for the Samara Region. The Award was founded by the Samara Region’s Trade Association and the Labor Union of Retail Employees and Entrepreneurs, “Trade Unity.”

An award ceremony for the winners in ten categories related to trade, public catering, public services and charity was held and the winner in each category was determined by an expert council comprised of business leaders, government officials and community leaders. In selecting the winner in the Best Retailer category, the expert council took into consideration X5’s proactive social activities, including its cooperation with the Life Line Charitable Fund, which helps children with severe health issues, active promotional and marketing campaigns and initiatives aimed at upgrading service quality.

X5 participates in the Congress each year and this is the Company’s second award in the Best Retailer of the Samara Region category. The Company received its first award in 2009. Alexander Kobenko, deputy head of the Samara Regional Government, in his speech about role of retailers in regional economies emphasized that X5 had earned the award it has received.