Русский
Russia’s Baltika beer brand, which was sold to its Russian management team for US$320 million in December last year following Carlsberg’s exit from the Russian consumer market, have launched 11 new online stores on popular internet platforms in China, and plans to open a trading house in Shanghai by the end of 2024.
Baltika Brewery is the second largest brewing company in Europe, and the leader of the Russian beer market with over 38% market share. It was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in St. Petersburg.
The company listed on the RTS stock exchange in 2001; one year later it had reached a market capitalization of US$1.3 billion. By the end of 2006, Baltika merged with three Russian breweries, Vena, Pikra, and Yarpivo, and in 2007 they became one legal entity. In April 2008, Baltic Beverages Holdings, a division of Carlsberg, bought a stake in the company and the company delisted.
Baltika’s production capacity is over 52 million decaliter of beer per month, while in total the company owns more than 30 beer and 9 non-beer brands. Sales are carried out in 98% of retail outlets in Russia.
China is the world’s largest beer consumer and has been for over two decades. Its total beer consumption in 2022 was 42 million kiloliters.
Russian consumer products are becoming fashionable in China as the youth and adult markets continue a move away from Western brands to towards what are now considered more exotic imports from elsewhere in Asia and with countries that retain friendlier ties with Beijing.
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