Information agency Credinform represents a ranking of the largest Russian food retailers. Companies of “Perekrestok, “Pyaterochka”, “Karusel”, “Lenta” and “Magnit” chains with the largest volume of annual revenue were selected for the ranking, according to the data from the State statistical authorities and the Federal Tax Service for the latest available periods (2017 - 2019). The companies were ranked by return on sales ratio (Table 1). The analysis was based on the data of the Information and Analytical system Globas.

Return on sales (%) is calculated as the share of operating profit in the total sales of the company. The ratio shows the efficiency of the production and commercial activities of the company, as well as the share of funds received from sale of products after covering its cost, taxes and interest on loans.

The range of values of the ratio for companies of the same industry is determined by differences in competitive strategies and product groups.

For the most complete and objective view of the financial condition of the enterprise, it is necessary to pay attention to the complex of indicators and financial ratios of the company.

Table 1. Net profit, revenue, return on sales ratio, solvency index Globas of companies included in the largest food chains of Russia (TOP-10), 2017 - 2019

Name, INN, region	Revenue, million RUB		Net profit (loss), million RUB		Return on sales, %		Solvency index Globas
	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
LLC AGROASPEKT INN 7715277300 Moscow	97 797	100 955	-16 464	5 402	8,59	6,76	208 Strong
LLC SELTA INN 2310053662 Krasnodar territory	38 531	38 996	1 935	1 896	7,20	6,09	200 Strong
LLC AGRO-AUTO INN 7714211088 Moscow region	22 638	26 538	-3 156	299	3,96	5,37	222 Strong
LLC AGROTORG INN 7825706086 Saint Petersburg	1035979	1 234 350	10 128	7 206	5,77	4,55	239 Strong
LLC LENTA INN 7814148471 Saint Petersburg	438 812	445 021	5 140	9 146	3,87	4,39	242 Strong
LLC KOPEYKA-MOSCOW INN 7715196234 Moscow	57 587	60 613	1 405	-1 153	3,22	2,98	293 Medium
JSC TRADING HOUSE PEREKRESTOK INN 7728029110 Moscow	878 818	906 694	5 980	21 698	2,26	2,79	234 Strong
LLC SLADKAYA ZHIZN N.N. INN 5257041777 Nizhniy Novgorod region	60 482	79 021	-753	-712	-1,33	-0,30	303 Adequate
JSC TANDER INN 2310031475 Krasnodar territory	1280930	1 396 525	23 377	12 985	-0,70	-1,58	240 Strong
LLC X 5 GIPER INN 7710529680 Moscow	38 259	53 514	451	7 840	-1,20	-2,09	200 Strong
Average value for TOP-10	394 983	434 223	2 804	6 461	3,16	2,90
Average value for TOP-50	83 880	89 003	1 342	2 449	13,09	7,86

growth of indicator to the previous period, decrease of indicator to the previous period

The average indicator of the return on sales ratio of TOP-10 is below the average one of TOP-50. In 2019, four companies have increased the value compared to the previous period.

Picture 1. Return on sales of companies included in the largest food chains (TOP-10)

During six years, the average values of the return on sales ratio of TOP-50 have a trend to decrease (Picture 2).

Picture 2. Change in the average values of the return on sales ratio of TOP-50 companies included in the largest Russian food chains, 2014 - 2019

The Federal Law No. 478-FL of December 27, 2019, established a transition from January 1, 2021 to a "registry model" in licensing, aimed at cessation of the paper-form licensing. Licenses are now confirmed by entries in the relevant register. Access to the license registers is publicly available.

When required, interested parties can be provided with extracts from the registers of licenses on paper or in electronic form.

Previously made entries in the registers of licenses must be brought into compliance with this law by January 1, 2022.

In pursuance of this law, by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1693 of October 15, 2020, the amendments were made to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 957 of November 21, 2011 "On licensing of certain types of activities" and to the Rules for the provision of documents on licensing in the form of electronic documents, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 722 of July 16, 2012.

The licensees are no longer obliged to provide documents confirming the payment of the state fee for re-licensing, but they are entitled to do this on their own initiative.

Obtaining licenses, copies or duplicate licenses has been replaced with the ability to obtain extracts from license registers.

The decree will be entered into force on January 1, 2021.

In addition, by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 742 of November 6, 2020, the extracts from license registers in paper form will cost 3,000 RUB from January 1, 2021.

The payment is made through the bank before submitting or simultaneously with the application for the provision of extracts to the authorized licensing bodies.

Refunds are made within one month on the basis of relevant applications indicating the bank details of the applicants or on the basis of a court decision.

Applications for the fee refund can be submitted within 3 years from the date of payment.

If the applicants refuse to receive extracts, the fee is not refundable. The fee is also not refundable in the absence of the requested information in the registers.

The subscribers of the Information and Analytical system Globas have access to the comprehensive information on 660 thousand active companies and sole entrepreneurs having active or terminated licenses, and learn about their business activities.