BELUGA GROUP announces its operational results for the 1H2017

BELUGA GROUP the largest spirits company in Russia, today announces operational results for the first half of the Y2017. The Company’s sales increased by 8% and amounted to 5,171 thousand deciliters comparing to 4,772 thousand deciliters reported in the 1H2016.

Following the results of the 1H2017 the Company increased the volume of its import operations. The distribution of import brands boosted by 34% from 260 thousand deciliters to 374 thousand deciliters.

Export of the Group has grown by 35% and reached 172 thousand deciliters. The most significant achievement has been shown by the flagship brand of the Group’s portfolio - super-premium BELUGA vodka. For the first time, export sales of the brand have exceeded its shipments in Russia.

Commenting on the operational results, Chief Executive Officer of BELUGA GROUP Alexander Mechetin said: “In the first half of the year the Group has continued to show positive sales trend. It occurred due to our active actions in the development of our own distribution system and the progress achieved in an innovative brand marketing: new brands launching, expansion and update of the existing product lines, entering new categories.

We also state the double-digit growth of our brands sales abroad, which was achieved due to an active export strategy of BELUGA GROUP. As a result, BELUGA vodka - the absolute leader in Russian super-premium segment - overseas sales exceeded its national sales for the first time ever. It confirms the fact of the Group’s products popularity, strong worldwide demand, and high-quality awareness.

In the latter half of the year, the Group increased both the sales of its own trademarks as well as  its key partners’ brands. The import indicators grew by 34%  due to organic  growth of the existing contracts and active development of wine business".

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Additional information:

Prokhor Malyutin PR Director	BELUGA GROUP	tel: +7 495 510 26 95 fax: +7 495 510 26 97 e-mail: malyutin@belugagroup.ru
Sergey Kuptsov Director, Corporate finance	BELUGA GROUP	tel: +7 495 510 26 95 fax: +7 495 510 26 97 e-mail: ir@belugagroup.ru

About BELUGA GROUP:

BELUGA GROUP is the leading spirits Group in Russia with a 16% share of the legal vodka market in Russia. The Company`s strategic focus lays on production and distribution of alcoholic beverages. BELUGA GROUP is #1 Russian independent importer of spirits. BELUGA GROUP possesses its own distributional platform, ensuring the largest possible market coverage, and diversified portfolio of brands, addressing market demands across the full spectrum of price points, from the low-middle to the super-premium price segments.  

The Company`s brand portfolio includes super-premium vodka Beluga, premium vodka Veda, sub-premuim vodkas Myagkov and Russky Lyod, middle price vodka Belenkaya, low-middle vodka Gosudarev Zakaz, brandy Zolotoy Reserv, Staraya Gvardia, Bastion. The Company operates six spirits production plants and one of the largest distributional platform in Russia. BELUGA GROUP is the exclusive distributor of one of the global premium spirits producer William Grant & Sons, representing in Russia such brands as Scottish whisky Glenfiddich, Grant’s, Clan McGregor, The Balvenie, gin Hendrick’s and Irish whisky Tullamore Dew. In addition to this, the Company distributes also the products of French house of Camus cognac. Also the imported portfolio of BELUGA GROUP includes Ron Barcelo rum, and Sambuca liqueurs, Milagro tequila, absinthe Xenta, Buffalo Trace and Benchmark bourbons, brandy Torres and the balms line of Latvijas balsams, Cono Sur wines.

The combination of strong portfolio of brands, strong production base and developed sales system supports BELUGA GROUP`s competitive advantages and profound organic growth year on year.