Rimi Baltic
A Baltic grocery retail operator running Rimi supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and distribution operations in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Rimi Baltic is a grocery retail operator serving the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Headquartered in Riga, Latvia, the business operates stores under a common Rimi identity while adapting store formats and assortments to local markets. Its network includes Rimi Hyper hypermarkets, Rimi Super supermarkets, Rimi Mini neighborhood grocery stores, and Rimi Express convenience outlets. The company also operates distribution centres in each of the three countries, supporting the movement of food, household goods, and other consumer products through its retail network. The roots of the business date to the mid-1990s, when SIA Rimi Baltija was established in Latvia as an offshoot of the Norwegian Rimi retail business. The first Latvian Rimi retail location opened at the Dole shopping centre on 20 February 1997. In 1998, the relevant Baltic operations were acquired by ICA Gruppen, then known as ICA. The business expanded in Lithuania in 1999 through the acquisition of the Ekovalda grocery chain. Although acquired locations initially retained local branding, the various operations began moving toward a single pan-Baltic Rimi identity from 2000. A major structural change occurred when Swedish ICA and Finnish Kesko combined their Baltic retail operations in a 50/50 joint venture. Rimi Baltic formally began operating in its later corporate form on 1 January 2005. The transaction brought together ICA's Rimi stores with Kesko's K-Citymarket, Säästumarket, and Supernetto operations in Estonia and Latvia. Former K-Citymarket hypermarkets were progressively converted to the Rimi Hyper format during 2005, helping create a unified regional retail network. Kesko exited the joint venture at the end of 2006 by selling its interest to ICA. Rimi Baltic became a wholly owned ICA subsidiary from 1 January 2007. A later attempted expansion in Lithuania did not proceed: ICA agreed in 2016 to acquire Palink, the operator of the IKI chain, but Lithuanian competition authorities required divestitures and ultimately the proposed transaction was terminated in 2018. In 2025, ICA Gruppen agreed to sell Rimi Baltic to Danish retailer Salling Group for an announced purchase price of EUR 1.3 billion excluding debt, subject to regulatory approval. The European Commission approved the transaction on 5 May 2025, and ownership transferred to Salling Group on 2 June 2025. The company therefore remains an active Baltic grocery operator but is no longer part of ICA Gruppen. Reference material describes a network of approximately 314 to 317 stores: 84 in Estonia, 143 in Latvia, and 90 in Lithuania. The difference reflects differing reporting dates or counting conventions. Rimi Baltic's business remains focused on food retail, everyday household purchases, local distribution, and multiformat shopping across the Baltic region.
History
Rimi Baltic developed from the expansion of the Rimi retail concept into the Baltic grocery market during the 1990s. SIA Rimi Baltija was founded in 1996 as an offshoot of the Norwegian Rimi business. Its first Latvian retail store opened at Riga's Dole shopping centre on 20 February 1997. The Baltic operations were acquired by ICA in 1998, bringing the business into the Swedish group's wider retail structure. Expansion continued in Lithuania in 1999, when the business acquired the Ekovalda grocery chain. The acquired stores initially continued to operate under local names, but the group began consolidating its Baltic operations under the Rimi identity in 2000. This process laid the foundation for a regional chain with shared branding, purchasing, logistics, and operating practices across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Rimi Baltic's formal corporate structure changed in 2004 and 2005. ICA and Kesko agreed to combine their Baltic retail activities in a 50/50 joint venture, which officially began operations on 1 January 2005. Kesko contributed six K-Citymarket hypermarkets and 45 Säästumarket discount stores in Estonia, together with five K-Citymarkets and 19 Supernetto discount outlets in Latvia. ICA contributed 33 Rimi supermarkets and compact hypermarkets located across the three Baltic markets. During 2005, the former K-Citymarket hypermarkets were progressively converted to the Rimi Hyper format. The joint venture was short-lived. Kesko decided to withdraw toward the end of 2006 and sold its entire interest to ICA. Rimi Baltic became wholly owned by ICA AB on 1 January 2007, with related property transactions involving former Citymarket sites completed shortly afterward. Under ICA ownership, the business continued operating a multiformat network, ranging from large hypermarkets to smaller grocery and convenience stores, while maintaining distribution infrastructure in all three countries. ICA later sought to expand its Lithuanian position by purchasing UAB Palink, operator of the IKI chain. The agreement was concluded in December 2016 for a reported EUR 213 million. Lithuania's Competition Council approved the transaction in October 2017 only on the condition that 17 Rimi and IKI stores in major cities be sold to third parties. Rimi Lietuva submitted potential buyers in March 2018, but the authority did not consider the proposed buyers capable of providing stable and comparably effective competition. The proposed acquisition was subsequently terminated in April 2018. In March 2025, ICA Gruppen agreed to sell Rimi Baltic to Salling Group of Denmark. The European Commission approved the deal on 5 May 2025, and the transaction was completed on 2 June 2025. Rimi Baltic consequently became part of Salling Group's international retail portfolio. Reference material reports roughly 314 to 317 stores in total, comprising 84 stores in Estonia, 143 in Latvia, and 90 in Lithuania, plus distribution centres in each market. The chain's principal formats are Rimi Hyper, Rimi Super, Rimi Mini, and Rimi Express.
- 2025
Rimi Baltic is sold to Salling Group
[1]ICA Gruppen agrees to sell Rimi Baltic to Salling Group; regulatory approval is granted in May and the transfer is completed on 2 June.
- 2018
IKI acquisition is terminated
[1]After competition-remedy concerns and an unsuccessful store-divestiture process, the planned acquisition is terminated.
- 2016
ICA agrees to acquire Palink
[1]ICA concludes an agreement to acquire the Lithuanian company operating the IKI grocery chain.
- 2007
ICA becomes sole owner
[1]Rimi Baltic becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of ICA AB on 1 January.
- 2006
Kesko decides to exit the joint venture
[1]Kesko announces its withdrawal from Rimi Baltic and agrees to sell its interest to ICA.
- 2005
Rimi Baltic joint venture begins operations
[1]ICA and Kesko combine their Baltic retail operations in a 50/50 venture that starts operating on 1 January.
- 2000
Pan-Baltic Rimi branding begins
[1]Retail locations from the different operating companies begin moving toward a common Rimi identity.
- 1999
Ekovalda is acquired in Lithuania
[1]Rimi's Baltic business expands through the acquisition of Lithuanian grocery chain Ekovalda.
- 1998
Baltic operations are acquired by ICA
[1]The relevant Rimi retail operations become part of ICA's group structure.
- 1997
First Latvian Rimi store opens
[1]The first Latvian retail location opens at the Dole shopping centre on 20 February.
Products and positioning
A broad-format, pan-Baltic grocery retailer combining hypermarkets, supermarkets, neighborhood stores, and convenience outlets under one regional brand.
Hypermarket · 2005
Rimi Hyper
The largest Rimi format, designed for broad weekly shopping missions. Rimi Hyper stores carry extensive food ranges alongside household and everyday consumer products. The format was also used to rebrand former K-Citymarket hypermarkets after the ICA-Kesko Baltic combination.
Supermarket
Rimi Super
A standard supermarket format focused on regular grocery shopping, fresh food, packaged products, beverages, and selected household and personal-care categories. It occupies a middle position between the larger Rimi Hyper stores and smaller neighborhood formats.
Neighborhood grocery store
Rimi Mini
A smaller local-store format intended for convenient top-up shopping and routine purchases. Rimi Mini locations generally emphasize accessible everyday grocery assortments rather than the breadth of a hypermarket.
Convenience store
Rimi Express
The compact convenience format serves quick shopping occasions, with an emphasis on readily consumed food, beverages, and essential grocery items. It extends the Rimi brand into smaller locations and more immediate purchase missions.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale from ICA Gruppen to Salling GroupM&ABackground
ICA Gruppen agreed to divest its Baltic grocery retail business as part of a change in ownership.
Action taken
Salling Group agreed to acquire Rimi Baltic for a reported EUR 1.3 billion excluding debt. The European Commission approved the transaction on 5 May, and completion occurred on 2 June.
Aftermath
Rimi Baltic became a subsidiary of Salling Group and continued operating under the Rimi brand in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Announced purchase price. EUR 1.3 billion excluding debt (2025 transaction announcement)
2016
Proposed acquisition of Palink and IKIM&ABackground
ICA sought to expand its Lithuanian food-retail presence by acquiring Palink, operator of the IKI chain.
Action taken
ICA agreed to purchase Palink, but the transaction required competition remedies involving the sale of stores in several Lithuanian cities.
Aftermath
The proposed acquisition was terminated in April 2018 after the competition authority did not accept the proposed buyers for the required divestitures.
Announced acquisition price. EUR 213 million (2016 agreement)
2007
ICA takes full ownership of Rimi BalticM&ABackground
Kesko decided to exit the 50/50 Baltic retail joint venture established with ICA.
Action taken
ICA acquired Kesko's shares, making Rimi Baltic a wholly owned subsidiary from 1 January 2007.
Aftermath
Rimi Baltic continued as part of ICA's group without a joint-venture shareholder.
2005
Unification of Baltic retail operations under RimiStrategyBackground
ICA and Kesko combined their retail businesses in Estonia and Latvia with ICA's existing Rimi operations across the Baltic region.
Action taken
The joint venture consolidated multiple store portfolios and progressively converted former K-Citymarket locations to the Rimi Hyper format.
Aftermath
Rimi Baltic became a more unified regional retail network with common branding and multiple store formats.
Sources1 sources
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