Russian alcohol giant CEDC planning Polish cider debut

“We are investing in the cider market and production is possible, and if we start production it will be with Polish apples,” commented chairman of CEDC Monzer Elabrashy, in an interview with the food and drink website portalspozywczy.pl.

He said that the final decision will most likely be taken in October.

CEDC is the biggest vodka producer in the world, and its products include Polish-made brands such as Żubrówka, Bols and Soplica. It also owns other non-vodka brands, such as Metaxa, Remy Martin, Jägermeister, Campari and Cinzano.

The corporation currently belongs to the Russian Standard Group.

Owing to an embargo on Polish apples being exported to Russia since August 2014, it would appear that CEDC may be compelled to set up its cider production facilities on Polish soil to circumvent the sanctions (theoretically the embargo may end in August 2016).

Cider was barely visible on the Polish market five years ago.

In 2013, Poles consumed 2 million litres of cider, but a year later that level had jumped to 10 million litres. Experts have predicted that the level may exceed 19 million litres this year, and that within five years, the market may reach 1.5 percent of the beer one. (nh/di/rk)

Source: portalspozywczy.pl, IAR, Puls Biznesu