How many stores does VkusVill have?

As of the first half of 2024, VkusVill has over 2,000 stores in 165 Russian cities.

Does VkusVill offer free delivery service?

Yes, VkusVill offers free delivery service for its customers.

What kind of products does VkusVill sell?

VkusVill sells a wide range of products, including healthy food options, dairy products, and other household essentials.

Is VkusVill a good value for money?

While VkusVill can be a bit pricey for some products, I think it's worth it for the quality and selection they offer.

Can I return products if I'm not satisfied?

Yes, VkusVill has a return policy in place, so if you're not satisfied with a product, you can return it for a refund or exchange.

Does VkusVill have online shopping options?

While VkusVill doesn't have a full online shopping platform, you can order products online and have them delivered to your doorstep.

What are the store hours for VkusVill?

VkusVill store hours vary by location, but most stores are open from 9am to 10pm, Monday through Sunday.

Is VkusVill a convenient option for shopping?

Yes, VkusVill is a convenient option for shopping, with many locations and a wide range of products available.

VkusVill Review: A Mixed Bag

I've been meaning to write a review of VkusVill for ages, but somehow never got around to it!

But today I decided - it's time.

We've got two VkusVill stores in our area, and I've also been to others in Moscow, so I'll share my thoughts in detail. Maybe it's not the most popular opinion.

A quick rundown.

VkusVill is a Russian retail chain of supermarkets and its own brand of products positioned as 'healthy food products'

Founded in 2009 in Moscow by entrepreneur Andrei Kryvenko as a chain of stores called 'Izbinka'. From 2012 onwards, besides 'Izbinka' stores selling only dairy products, 'VkusVill' stores with a broader range started opening.

As of the first half of 2024, the chain has over 2,000 stores in 165 Russian cities.

VkusVill also offers free delivery service.

I know I'm not alone in my confusion - many people are big fans of this supermarket, and I'm just not one of them.

But one thing you can't take away from VkusVill - it's really pleasant to shop here!

The store layout.

The logo is eye-catching and bright, but not annoying, in a lovely green hue that's visible from a distance.

Inside all the stores I've been to in this chain, everything looks really nice.

The floors are always spotless, no puddles or mess anywhere.

The lighting is great and bright.

The aisles are wide enough, but in some places, they're super narrow – I had trouble squeezing through with someone else, and I wouldn't want to try pushing a stroller with a kid. The store layout is always super tidy, everything is well-organized, and it's clear they put some thought into it.

Products are divided into sections: seafood, meat, gourmet food, frozen goods, dairy – it's all pretty intuitive, so you won't get lost.

I'm a sucker for those gorgeous wicker baskets in the fruit section.

What stores are there?

We've got two in our area – a smaller Vkusvill Mini and a regular-sized Vkusvill.

The first one, as you might guess from the name, is smaller.

It's got some pretty unusual hours:

Monday to Sunday: 09.00 - 21.45,

weekends: 10 - 21.45.

I've never seen anything like that before.

Now we're talking about a big deal, like, a big Vkusvill.

Store hours:

09:00–22:00.

Let's get inside...

What can you buy? What's the selection like in Vkusvill?

As far as the selection goes, it's just your run-of-the-mill supermarket - fruits, veggies, dairy, ready-to-eat meals, sweet snacks, chips, meat, fish, seafood... You know, the usual.

But the thing that sets Vkusvill apart is that

a) they really focus on healthy eating, like a paradise for all you clean-eating enthusiasts,

b) they have their own brand, which a lot of people swear by (why, I'm not sure?).

Let's get this tour started!

First up, let's check out Vkusvill mini, I guess, so we don't break the rules (I mentioned it earlier).

I snapped a pic of about a third of the store.

It's a bit cramped in here, to be honest, but that's because the store is small. The shelves are packed tightly, and the prices are a bit cramped too, which is a bummer, but I get why it's like that.

Here's the dairy section - we've got cheese, yogurt, yogurt drinks, kefir, milk, cream, and all sorts of other dairy delights.

Down below, there are all sorts of cakes and pastries.

I was blown away by the variety of cheeses they had on offer - there was even a little cheese board with all sorts of goodies.

The meat selection was top-notch too - I mean, who doesn't love a good variety of meats?

And of course, they had all the fishy delights - fresh fish, crab sticks, canned fish, caviar, and all the rest.

The pre-cut and pre-packed veggies were a lifesaver - I just tossed them into a salad and voila!

The ready-to-eat section in the fridge was a game-changer - I just grabbed what I needed and went.

The fresh veggies were a highlight - they were so colorful and delicious.

And to top it all off, they had a great selection of fruits and veggies.

And let's not forget the Red meat and poultry...

Veggie cans and chips.

Inside, it was spotless and fresh, making shopping a breeze - no unpleasant odors, and the cashier was super friendly, so I really enjoyed the experience.

Let's keep exploring!

I'm glad we've got the big, normal Walmart on the agenda now)

As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by the produce section, and to the right, there's a massive stand with all sorts of canned goods, including a ton of veggie cans at pretty reasonable prices.

There's a great selection of fruits and veggies. You've got multiple types of apples and citrus fruits, just like the tomatoes - it's nice to know you've got options. Want something sweet and red, or something sour and green (that's the apple thing, specifically)?

The apples in that shot are top-notch!)

You can see the fridge in the background, and it's stocked with pre-packaged veggies.

Overall, the setup is great – everything's neatly arranged, nothing's falling over, and no signs of spoilage or mold.

But I still prefer buying produce, berries, and fruits at the local shop near my place. Why, you ask, when I just raved about this store?)

Firstly, the quality is even better there.

Secondly, it's cheaper.

Thirdly, I love it when fruits and veggies SMELL! You know, like when you're out in the countryside or at a farm... I pick an apple, and it's got this amazing aroma – sweet, juicy, and fresh. Or I grab a tomato and a cucumber from the garden, and I'm walking around, enjoying the earthy, zesty scent. Vewyskoe's produce just doesn't have that same intensity, and it's not really my thing.

Next up (a bit unexpectedly), we stumble upon the cosmetics stand.

Then we see the fridge with all sorts of processed meats: sausages, salamis, and whatnot.

I've got a whole wall and three big fridges dedicated to pre-packaged goods. I usually just walk on by - I'll explain why in a minute, it's just not that exciting.

Then there are two big shelving units with dairy products - one for different types of cheese, the other for everything else.

The selection is pretty big, so there's plenty to choose from. If you need help, the staff are friendly and happy to assist.

Next up, we've got shelves for tea and herbs.

There's a huge variety of snacks: chips, biscuits, crackers...

I have to admit, I'm not always sure about the pricing. Ah yes, they do emphasize healthy ingredients and natural products, which I guess justifies the higher prices.

They've also got self-service kiosks and two regular checkout lanes with cashiers.

From my experience, the checkout lines at VkusVill are always a bit slow, but not so slow that it's annoying. I mean, places like Lenta, Diksi, Pyaterochka, or Perespektka are lightning-fast - you just have to be quick to grab your items and bag them up!

What I don’t love about VkusVill

The organic trend came to us from the West, as usual.

I can genuinely believe that in the US or Europe, there's a much stricter quality control, cultivation, and production process. But here, we just jumped on the organic trend, slapped a pretty label on it, gave it a fancy name, and that's it. As for the quality... yeah.

To put it bluntly, there's regular rice and there's organic rice. The latter is not just some mediocre stuff grown with well water at dawn, sprouting in some remote forest (exaggerating, of course). The first one costs 50 rubles, while the second one is 350 or even 550 rubles. Organic, right? But honestly, they look and taste almost the same, and sometimes even worse than non-organic.

So, you have to pay for the trend, and sometimes even overpay.

VkusVill's pricing seems to be separate from quality, not always, but often.

I'm not sure I believe their claims about good compositions – they might be good, but I'm skeptical. But that's a topic for another time. At the price point, it seems like they have a great composition, but the taste is a different story. What's the magic here? I haven't tried their entire range, but it's often like that.

The prices are high, and the food is just okay or regular. Sometimes, you get something amazing – like their shrimp, which is actually good. But mostly, it's just... In a regular Perekrustok or Lent, I wouldn't say it's worse, and sometimes it's even better.

Okay, let me show you what I bought.

For a while, I was too lazy to cook, so I just bought pre-made food (I didn't do it often last year, but it was a regular thing a few years ago).

I ordered soups, salads, and main courses from Vkusvill...

This soup was disgusting when I opened the package - it smelled like something absolutely revolting, and it made my eyes water. I even felt a reflex to go 'eww' when I caught a whiff of it. It was a nightmare, and I still remember it to this day, even though the expiration date was fine.

The fries were way too salty, making them impossible to eat. The burger was okay, not a culinary masterpiece, but at least it was edible. It was a bit greasy, though.

The mushroom dish was actually pretty good.

The liver with onions and rice was the best part of the meal, but even that was just okay. I could've made it better myself, and don't even get me started on the restaurant.

The soup was a total disaster.

I didn't even bother taking a photo of the rest of the meal, but that's

I have to say, the vinagrette salad was a total disappointment, but the salad with commander's squid was a nice surprise - the combination of ingredients was spot on, and I also loved the beet salad.

However, the sea cabbage salad was a different story - I ended up with a mouthful of sand and the cabbage was dry and unappetizing.

The grilled chicken breast with vegetables was a pleasant surprise, though - it tasted great.

I also enjoyed the calamari grill and the smoked salmon - both were delicious.

Unfortunately, all the soups, including the borscht and scalded soup, were completely unpalatable and inedible.

Ugh, it's just disgusting.

Just thinking about it makes me shudder.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE for me is that after eating all the pre-cooked meals from VkusVill, I always end up with a severely upset stomach - it's like my body is protesting or something 😞

That's why I tend to avoid their prepared food stands. Occasionally, they get something right, but more often than not, the result is a stomachache or even food poisoning.

Another thing that's worth mentioning is that the pre-cooked meals from VkusVill don't fill me up for long - I'll eat a meal, do some stuff, and before I know it, I'm already hungry again, like I never ate anything at all.

There's even a term for this - empty food.

This is exactly what I'm talking about)

So, what about their other products?

I tried their chips and wasn't impressed - they were either too thin or too thick in the same package, and the taste was just okay.

The high-oleic sunflower oil was a pleasant surprise, though - I was surprised to find out that you can actually fry with it.

The topinambur cookie was weird-tasting, although I do enjoy the topinambur syrup on its own.

I also tried the minced mackerel and another type of product - it was way too salty and the flavor was barely noticeable.

I have to admit, the smoked squid was a major turnoff - I lost count of how many parasites were in it, and the texture was like a mesh. I couldn't even look at seafood for a while after that.

I tried the fried insects four times (I've been a fan since childhood), and at first, they were really tasty. But then they'd either be stuck together or dry with weird, hard chunks - I was worried about my teeth! Needless to say, I haven't bought them from VkusVill since.

The marzipan was just okay - I've had better. Same with the cookies.

I tried a few of their teas - three or four different ones, and one of them was just awful.

I also tried some fruit or berry drink that was just disgusting - I ended up pouring it out.

The bread and lavash were hit-or-miss - sometimes they were fine, but other times they were dry and hard, or the lavash was burnt and way too salty.

But their candies were a different story - original, pleasant, and with a unique berry-herbal flavor that I really enjoy.

THE ONE THING I ALWAYS BUY FROM VKUSVILL, THOUGH

They have an amazing, incredible milk alternative made from goat's milk.

I'm a regular at VkusVill, and I always pick up their kefir, ryazhenka, and goat's milk yogurt (and sometimes cheese, like camembert - but that's not a regular purchase).

The prices aren't bad either.

This is the real deal - I can tell it's not diluted with cow's milk (my gut would definitely notice if it was!).

I'm glad I don't get that distinctive goat smell, but the taste is amazing and healthy, with a familiar goat flavor that I love.

I have to be honest, I can't drink milk from cows - it gives me the worst stomach cramps, so I'm always grateful to have Vkusvill as an option.

The drinks here are always super fresh, top-notch quality, and have incredible flavor.

My mom even buys milk from Vkusvill in another city, and she's always raving about it.

In short, Vkusvill's milk products are definitely worth checking out - they're diverse, fresh, appetizing, and interesting. That's why I always come back for more.

And the fourth product that I really like from Vkusvill is the herb-infused packaging with mint (you can see it in the basket on the left in the photo).

It's got a lovely, refreshing aroma and a subtle, refined taste that's perfect for adding to tea.

Honestly, that's all I like about Vkusvill.

If it weren't for the milk, I'd give it two stars!

Loyalty Program.

There's a discount card (I haven't actually signed up for it), the option to choose your favorite product, and frequent discounts... So, if you put in the effort, you can save a bit, but I'd rather just buy my food somewhere else.

And, of course, there's delivery - my neighbor is a huge Vkusvill fan and always orders online (she just can't understand why I don't like it, and I don't get why she does either). We often go for walks together and have fun arguing about it.

Conclusion.

I think Vkusvill is just a hyped-up store with subpar products that don't live up to their price. People are overpaying for a trend and bad quality, and that just doesn't sit right with me.)

There are plenty of other supermarkets where you can get something tastier for a better price. And markets, let's be honest, are still an option! And taste buds too.

But the ready-to-eat food at VkusVill? It's just a disaster...

Still, it's a pleasure to visit this place, and I enjoy shopping here. Their milk is absolutely amazing.

All in all, I'd give it three stars: for the great design, delicious milk, and the lovely mint tea they offer. And I'm absolutely loving the woven baskets with fruits at the entrance - they're gorgeous!

Other reviews from me on supermarkets:

Chizhik,

Lenta,

Diksi,

Krasnoe i Beloe,

Perekrestok.

I'm glad you're reading my reviews 😊