OREANDA-NEWS. The Financial Times published its list of the 500 largest companies in the world. Market capitalisation was taken as the basis for preparing the list, since in the opinion of its compilers this is a good evaluation of the effectiveness of companies by the market participants.

Baltika Breweries has long been included in the list and continues to be an assured leader among companies in the food sector of Eastern Europe, where it is 30 places ahead of the dairy and juice products company Vimm-Bill-Dann, for example. Compared to last year, Baltika’s capitalisation grew by 46,4% and amounted to $7,67 billion. Baltika took a solid 26th place - in the company of oil majors and metals industry enterprises. Baltika Breweries was ranked 373th among Europe’s largest companies, which compares to its position in 411th place in 2006.

To a large extent this success was due to the successful merger of the brewery companies Baltika, Vena, Pikra and Yarpivo. The Company’s new marketing strategy also played a significant role in improving its financial results. This strategy was launched at the start of 2007 and is based on thorough research of the market and consumer preferences.

During Q1 2007, the Company grew faster than the market and strengthened its leadership position, taking a market share of 37,5% (+2,6% compared to the corresponding period last year).

Sales volume of all Company products in Q1 2007 amounted to 8,7 million hectolitres, representing a growth of 41,6% with respect to the corresponding reporting period of 2006. Beer sales amounted to 8,6 million hectolitres, a rise of +41,6%.

The Financial Times believes that growth in the Company’s share price is also linked to the boom in the consumer market. Whereas previously it was mainly oil companies which were leaders on the stock market, now investors have become selective and the Russian market is more diversified.