Outlet 600 Added to Nokian’s Vianor Chain

Nokian Tyres reports that its Vianor retail chain reached an important milestone in December 2009 with the opening of its 600th outlet. The store, located in the Ukrainian city of Kharkov, is what Nokian refers to as an ‘entrepreneur-led partner outlet’. The Ukraine, the company adds, now ranks second behind Russian in terms of countries with the largest number of Vianor outlets.

“The expansion of Vianor has a major role in achieving the Group’s growth targets,” said Nokian Tyres president and CEO Kim Gran. “The Ukrainian Vianor network is an exemplary demonstration of how the carefully conceptualised co-operation model between Nokian Tyres and the Vianor shopkeepers works and is mutually profitable. I warmly welcome Vianor Kharkov to the efficient distribution network of Nokian Tyres! The new Vianor outlets allow us to take our industry-leading product selection and high-quality services closer to our customers.”

Nokian Tyres is the only tyre manufacturer worldwide to focus on Nordic conditions. The company has four key market areas: the Nordic countries, Russia and other CIS states, North America, and Central and Eastern Europe. The Vianor tyre chain aims at establishing a solid foothold in these strategically important market areas, and plans to expand its international franchising and partner network in a “decisive” manner. The objective, says Nokian Tyres, is to be the leading tyre chain in its market areas. The Vianor chain now includes outlets in 19 countries, with most covering networks in the Nordic countries, Russia and Ukraine. Most Vianor outlets are franchise or partner owned.