OREANDA-NEWS. On 01 June 2009 was announced, that OJSC Krupskaya Confectionery Factory, a Russian chocolate company with a market leading position in St. Petersburg and Northwest Russia has reached agreement to handle sales and distribution of Pekar products in Northwest Russia, starting from 1 July 2009.

St. Petersburg based Pekar, which has maintained market leadership in wafers and wafer cakes in Northwest Russia, is majority owned by Moscow based OAO Cheremushki, parent enterprise of "Cheremushki" group of companies. "We believe that sales and distribution of confectionary products in Northwest Russia could be much more efficient if we combine our product volumes with Krupskaya," says Rustam Atakhodzhaev, General Director of OAO Cheremushki. "That is why we plan to sign the agreement on general distribution of confectionary products in the North-West Region of Russia as of 1 July 2009"

"Krupskaya has worked hard to develop a logistic network to serve all cities in Northwest Russia," says General Director Philip Wegh. "Combining our product sales with Pekar will lower transport costs to distant cities like Murmansk and Arkangelsk, while allowing more frequent deliveries to clients. The customers of both companies will benefit."

Confectionary factory named after N. K. Krupskaya, that was found in 1938, today is one of the leading confectionary enterprise in Russia specialized in chocolate products production. Krupskaya has over 280 SKUs which are represented by natural chocolate tablets, chocolate bars, loose chocolate sweets, chocolates in boxes and chocolate semi products for food industry. The company is market share leader in the North-West region of Russia and Number 2 player in chocolate bars. In 2006 Krupskaya was acquired by the Norwegian company Orkla, which is one of the largest listed companies in Norway. Orkla is a leading supplier of branded consumer goods to the Nordic market, and with strong local positions in Russia, India and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Krupskaya employs — 900 persons.

Krupskaya Factory posted 2008 operating revenues of 2,433 million rubles (USD 96,4 million). Krupskaya sales in 2008 showed +30% growth over 2007.

"Cheremushki" group of companies specializes on production and sales of floury-confectionary and bakery products, frozen pastry and semi-ready products. Main brands are: "Charodeyka", "Sdobnaya osoba", "Persidskaya nochj", "Medovik". Sales turnover of the group in 2008 was 4,736 mln. rubles (without VAT and internal turnover). The number of employees in the group is 3100 persons.