OREANDA-NEWS. From October 13-17, 2007, Cologne is host to the International Food Products Exhibition ANUGA. This year it brings together under one roof ten specialised thematic exhibitions.

This is the third time in a row that Baltika Breweries takes part in ANUGA Drinks, where alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from the whole world are presented. The beer industry will be represented by 70 companies from 25 countries.

ANUGA occupies the entire grounds of the famous exhibition complex Koelnmesse - 304,000 sq.m. More than 6,000 organizations from 95 countries will participate. Eighty-three percent of the exhibitors are foreign companies, including 22 from Russia. The main distinguishing feature of the fair is that it is intended only for businesses. Entrance to outside visitors is strictly limited. For the leading suppliers of raw ingredients and equipment, manufacturers, representatives of the commercial sector, medium and small-sized businesses, ANUGA is the best base for collecting information, taking orders and broadening the sphere of their activity.

The Baltika stand will have a bar with a full assortment of Baltika brand beer, including Baltika №4 Original, Baltika №7 Export, and Baltika №8 Wheat beer available for free-of-charge tasting. Baltika views its participation in the exhibition as an opportunity to find new customers and enter new markets. Company representatives have already planned business meetings with potential partners from European countries.

Interest in Russian-origin beer is rather high in Germany. Baltika began its deliveries to Germany in the year 2000, and by 2002-2003 annual sales volume already exceeded 1,200,000 litres. This was facilitated by the opening of a subsidiary in Hamburg called Baltika Deutschland GmbH in 2002. In 2004, Baltika was forced to substantially curtail shipments. The reason was the introduction in Germany of a ‘decree on packaging,’ which established a mandatory deposit on non-returnable packaging. Now Baltika products are sold throughout Germany in returnable packaging with deposit of 0.08 Euro per bottle and 1.50 Euro per case.

Today the Company sells in Germany its Baltika brand varieties № 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, Cooler as well as Nevskoye Original, Svetloye, Classic and Ice. The brand is positioned in the premium segment. The most popular variety in Russia, Baltika №3 Classic, is distributed both in bars and restaurants, as well as in shops across all of Germany. The average price of a 0.5 litre bottle is 0.89 Euro (not including the deposit). During the first half of 2007, 47,500 decalitres of Baltika beer was sold in Germany.