BRICS international cooperation as the mechanism for ensuring Russia’s food sovereignty

The paper discusses several aspects of Russian food sovereignty within the BRICS association, including the effectiveness of franchising systems, the use of trademarks and private labels, and issues related to packaging processing. The Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation aims to increase the export potential of agricultural products by developing domestic production and establishing long-term partnerships with international partners. This is an important factor in ensuring food sovereignty. Retail chains are an effective platform for promoting products from national suppliers. The success of international retail chain activities confirms the effectiveness of franchising systems in expanding business into foreign markets. Franchising is one of the most effective business models for developing export potential of the Russian firms in international markets. This study examines various franchise systems integrated by Russian and foreign retail chains into their operational activities. Most retail chains offer business-format franchises that involve requirements for store size, style, and assortment. One of the elements of franchising is the use of the firms’ own trademarks. These trademarks play a significant role in promoting goods in foreign markets, particularly private label products because they allow vendors to take into account the unique traditions and consumer preferences of each country where their business operates. Private labels are also one of the most flexible tools for effective operational activities as they help to regulate the supply chain at every stage, thus reducing costs. The paper summarizes data on consumers in the BRICS countries and identifies the characteristics of populations that are important for firms’ operational activities, including the average age of residents, religious and cultural diversity. Analyzing the specific features of a territory to identify potential business opportunities allows the retail chain to create an assortment that satisfies the needs of consumers in a particular trading area. Today, trade in food products generates a large amount of waste packaging worldwide. As important participants in supply chains, retailers play a role in regulating the types of packaging and its processing possibilities. When planning future activities, a trading company evaluates market conditions to forecast operational success. The paper examines factors affecting future demand and conducts a regression analysis of consumption patterns in the BRICS countries.