OREANDA-NEWS. At the beginning of October 2007, Baltika Breweries began delivering beer to the former French colonial possessions: the Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, reported the press-centre of Baltika Breweries.

The first containers of the Company’s products were sent out by sea this week from the Baltika Breweries in St. Petersburg. The overall volume of the first shipment was more than 28,000 litres (15,000 litres to the Congo and 13,200 litres to the Cote d’Ivoire). As a result, already in November Baltika beer with English-language labels will begin to appear in the large retail chains, as well as in bars and restaurants of these African countries. The products will be positioned in the super-premium segment.

Baltika №3, Baltika №6, and Baltika №9 will be sold in the largest cities of the Congo, the economic capital of Pointe-Noire and the political capital of Brazzaville. The retail price per bottle of Baltika will range from $1,60 in the off-trade segment and $2,50 in the Horeca segment. In Cote d’Ivoire, sales will begin in the capital of Yamoussoukro and in the largest city of the country, Abidjan. Baltika beer will be represented by the assortment Baltika №3, Baltika №5 and Baltika №9. It will cost between $1,40-1,80.

With the start of deliveries to these two countries, Baltika Breweries products now are represented in all five inhabited continents of the Earth.

Director for Export Sales of Baltika Breweries Dmitry Kistev commented as follows: "Export to the exotic markets of these two African countries helps Baltika to occupy a worthy place in the fast-growing segment of super-premium beer. Due to the specific features of the region, it is too early to speak of the volume of future shipments, but it is in our plans to make them regular. It is a goal of Baltika to import beer where it meets the demands of new consumers. This is especially important, because the high quality and excellent flavour of our products exert influence in shaping a positive image of the new Russia as a whole.

Baltika Breweries began to export its products in the year 2000. During this time, the Company has become established in 45 markets of countries near and far. At the end of the first six months of 2007, sales of the Company’s brands abroad grew by more than 25%. Export sales of the Company’s products account for more than 70% of all Russian beer exports, all of which underlines the status of Baltika as an international company. Now every eighth bottle of Baltika brand beer is sold abroad.