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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/4179526.stm

Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 10:01 GMT 11:01 UK

Strong orders for Russian beers

Russian brewer Baltika has seen exports soar in the first half of 2005, while market share has increased at the expense of its domestic rivals.

The firm, whose Baltika lager is one of the world's most popular, saw profits rise 39% to 230.6m euros (�156m).

Baltika said smart marketing and strong distribution helped it outperform the Russian market, which grew 3.7%.

its largest shareholder, BBH, is jointly owned by global brewers Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg.

Export rush

Baltika's share of the Russian beer market - in terms of sales volumes - rose to 24%, three percentage points higher than the same period last year.

Its sales volumes rose 22% over the period driven by increased demand for Baltika, Russia's number one beer and Europe's number two.

"The company continues to demonstrate success and feels confident in the marketplace"
Anton Artemiev, Baltika Breweries



The company is also building sales of Baltika and other products outside of Russia, with exports rising 24%.

The largest growth has been seen in fast-growing neighbouring markets such as Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Direct beer shipments have started to Holland and France while its principal lager is being sold in Ireland and Norway for the first time.

Baltika said it was optimistic about prospects for the year as a whole.

Growth potential

"The results show that the company continues to demonstrate success and feels confident in the marketplace," company president Anton Artemiev said

Foreign brewers have been targeting Russia in recent years.

They see huge potential for growth in a country in which beer, until the 1990s, played second fiddle to vodka.

Russia has now become the world's fifth largest consumer of beer.

If Baltika is Europe's #1 beer - a) why have I never heard of it and b) why do I go for the top ten beers that do not include this Baltika?
Leslie (I prefer wodka anyway!)

Baltika has been produced in St Petersburg since 1990, and very quickly became the #1 beer in Russia. In the past several years, it has been moving steadly westward. If you know where to look, it is even available in the United States.

Why haven't you heard of it? I don't know... maybe it's not available where you live. I do know, however, from other British people I know that Baltika is available in locations in the UK - maybe just not in your city.

As for your choices in beer... that's really your business, anyway. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I never drink beer. The only two drinks I ever would have are Sovietskoye champaigne and Stolichnaya vodka.

I "borrowed" this joke from Carolyn, Bella's Beer&Brewing Editor:

After the Great Britain Beer Festival in London, all the brewery presidents decided to go out for a beer. The guy from Corona sits down and says, "Hey Senor, I would like the world's best beer, a Corona." The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him.

The guy from Budweiser says, "I'd like the best beer in the world, give me 'The King Of Beers', a Budweiser." The bartender gives him one.

The guy from Coors says, "I'd like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain spring water, give me a Coors." He gets it.

The guy from Guinness sits down and says, "Give me a Coke." The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered.

The other brewery presidents look over at him and ask "Why aren't you drinking a Guinness?" and the Guinness president replies, "Well, I figured if you guys aren't drinking beer, neither would I."

Eric,

I have doubts about Russian beer being the best. There are many products which are good in Russia - but more famous beer is in Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic.

Maybe this Russian beer has bigger mass production than some good products in Belgium ... just because there are many people in Russia everybody, all Russian books have more copies than Polish books not because they are better or worse but because they have a bigger audience.

You see, Poles have their own beer but I would not have a courage to say - it is the best just because I am Polish

Jaga, this was not the Russian media claiming that Baltika is one of the best beers. This is not even me claiming it, because I don't drink beer, and I don't like to see it so much. (In Russia, beer is officially considered a "soft drink", so it is perfectly legal to drink it anywhere in public.)

The article came from the BBC. So, if you disagree that a Russian beer should be listed among the best in Europe, your argument should be with the British media, not with me. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Interestingly, the BBC is usually very anti-Russian, so it is quite a surprise to see any good news about Russia there at all!

They probably usually want to annex part of Russia.

BBC! You just leave Russia alone!!

If you read the articles carefully, you will see that this beer, although brewed in Russia, actually:

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... is distinctly Nordic.

Baltika was the brainchild of a joint venture between the Finnish drinks group Hartwall and its Norwegian partner, the consumer goods group Orkla.

Together they stormed the fast-growing Russian market for beer with the launch of Baltic Beverage Holdings (BBH) in 1991.

They never looked back. Russia quickly rose to become the world's fifth largest consumer of beer, after Brazil, Germany, the US and China.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/3086435.stm
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So it is a Viking invasion of Russia, not the BBC
<img src="/images/graemlins/viking.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/viking.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/viking.gif" alt="" />

The BBC wants to annex part of Russia? What, are they after the Ostankino TV tower?

Wole Zubrowka, Absolwent, i Wisniowa Polska Wodka. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (But the Polski beer is also good: Okocim, Lomza and Tyskie are my favorites at this time, but I haven't tried them all! So many beers, so little time) <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />