OREANDA-NEWS. On 30 June 2009 was announced, that Yaroslavl hosted official opening of the second stage of the malt plant of Baltika Breweries of 105 000 tons of malt per year. The Company’s investments into the regional economy amounted to over €18 mln.

Construction and development of a malt house in Yaroslavl is an important stage of Baltika Breweries’ investment policy aimed at reduction of production costs preserving the high quality of its products. The effectiveness of the Company’s policy proved itself even amid the complicated situation of the economic crisis. By the results of the Quarter 1 of 2009, despite the general economic decline, Baltika improved its cost-effectiveness and profitability indicators.

The decision to double the capacities of the Baltika’s malting plant was largely influenced by the successful implementation of the Company’s own agricultural project in the Central Federal district of Russia. The project involved growing high-quality malt barley by domestic agricultural producers that allows reducing cost of a major beer component: malt.

Until recently, due to the properly functioning malt houses in Tula, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl, Baltika provided itself with malt by more than one third. The doubled capacities of the malting plant in Yaroslavl will enable the Company to receive more primary raw materials for beer production and to satisfy its needs almost by 50%.

The official ceremony of opening of the second stage of the malting plant was attended by Governor of the Yaroslavl region Sergei Vakhrukov and President of Baltika Breweries Anton Artemiev.

President of Baltika Breweries Anton Artemiev: "An own malt house is an honour to any brewery. Amid the crisis it is also a solid foundation helping the Company to maintain a sustainable position on the market, to develop related industries. High quality malt produced in Yaroslavl from selected barley grown in Russia will be able to compete with European and world producers."

First Deputy Governor of the Yaroslavl region Vladimir Kovalchuk: "The administration of the region makes great efforts to create attractive investment climate in the region. Development of the Baltika Breweries’ state-of-the-art malting production in the region sets a good example of active collaboration of the state and business."

The Yaroslavl branch of Baltika Breweries is a leader among the enterprises of the Yaroslavl region in terms of tax payments to the budget of the region. In 2008 Baltika-Yaroslavl Branch paid over 2.5 bln rubles to the regional treasury.

The Baltika’s malting plant in Yaroslavl is provided with state-of-the-art equipment capable of ensuring high technologically efficient and environmentally friendly production. The malt produced in Yaroslavl is suitable for production of licensed brands of Carlsberg and Tuborg. This opinion was issued by specialists of Carlsberg Breweries after certification.