POLAND: SPI linked to Polish distillery

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 2 December 2003

The Russian businessman who runs Soyuzplodimport (SPI), the company at loggerheads with the Russian government over the ownership of Stolichnaya Vodka, is one of the bidders for Polmos Jozefow, the Polish press reported today.

The reports suggest Yuri Shefler would use the polmos to help produce the Stolichnaya and Moscovscaya brands. SPI owns the international rights to these brands but has had the domestic rights confiscated by the Russian government and cannot bottle or sell the brands in country.

The report quotes the State Treasury in Poland as saying that three other bids have been received for Polmos Jozefow so far, including one from Sobieski Dystrybucja; one from Diageo, which owns Smirnoff; and a capital fund from the US.

Sectors: Spirits

Companies: Diageo