RUSSIAN VODKA BEGINNING TO CONSOLIDATE

Russian Wine and Vodka Co. and OST-Alco may agree to merge together by the end of this week. Together the two companies would control 8% of the country’s vodka market and could possibly come together early next year. “We are considering two options: both companies holding 50% in the venture, or OST holding 51% and RVVK holding 49%,” Yelena Sorokina the general director of OST group, told a Russian newspaper. With new alcohol legislation passing in January, the Russian vodka market will likely see a number of consolidations.