‘Top Mart chain stores could definitely become our competitors,’ Deputy General Director of Ives Rocher chain stores Irina Klepikova says. ‘Fierce competition is an integral feature of the local market, so the arrival of a new chain dealing in analogous products is going to make it even worse. Whether Top Mart is going to hit Ives Rocher in particular depends on the brands and the target audience they choose. If their assortment happens to be different from ours, competition won’t get too bad,’ Ms Klepikova added. She also finds the idea of cooperation not improbable