Beer in Russia

PROSPECTS

In 2018, beer sees growth after a lengthy continuous decline

Beer in Russia experienced tough times during the last 10 years, but finally the long-awaited growth was registered in 2018. Hot weather during the high sales season, as well as the FIFA World Cup held in Russia, positively affected the category in this year.

Craft beer continues its positive performance in 2018

Craft beer continued to post slow total volume growth in Russia in 2018. The drivers of developments in previous years, such as flavour sophistication and new taste experiments, started to lose power for domestic producers, due to the increasing availability of affordable imported brands, which saw double-digit growth in 2018.

Beer imports and exports post growth in 2018

Both imports and exports of beer posted growth in volume terms in 2018, although they did not reach the volumes seen before the crisis in 2014. In terms of imported lager, sales growth became more notable in 2017, and in 2018 this positive trend continued, mostly thanks to the pricing policy of imported premium lager brands.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The merger of InBev and Anadolu Group in Russia and Ukraine

In April 2018, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Anadolu Group completed the merger of their businesses in Russia and Ukraine under a new entity, AB InBev Efes Group. The new entity joined the advantages of the experience and business process efficacy of both players, as well as consumers‘ awareness of their brands.

Baltika Pivovarennaya Kompaniya continues to lead beer

Baltika Pivovarennaya Kompaniya continued to hold the lead in beer in Russia in total volume terms in 2018. The company’s sales were driven by the strong performances of various brands, including Baltika family brands, Carlsberg, Zatecky Gus and Zhigulevskoye in lager, but it also benefited from its performance in non-alcoholic beer and draught beer.

Independent small grocers feels the pressure

Independent small grocers are mostly popular in the regions rather than in central parts of the country, but experienced pressure from the rapid growth of food/drink/tobacco specialists, mostly Krasnoe & Beloe by Labirint-S and Bristol by Albion-2002. Krasnoe & Beloe continued to demonstrate strong growth in outlet numbers in 2018.

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