OREANDA-NEWS. On October 13-17, 2007, Cologne is hosting 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 is 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 organisations from 95 countries are participating in it. 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 has a bar with a full assortment of Baltika brand beer, including Baltika 4 Original, Baltika 7 Export, and Baltika 8 Wheat beer is available for free-of-charge tasting. Baltika views its participation in the exhibition as an opportunity to find new customers and enter new markets.

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 were sold in Germany.

Total exports sales volume in 2006, with license production, amounted to1.8 mln hl, which is 27% more that in 2005. Export sales of the Company's products account for more than 70% of all Russian beer exports, all of which underlines the status of Baltika as an international company. Today, every eighth bottle of Baltika brand beer is sold abroad.

Baltika Breweries is the leader of Russian brewing industry. It is awarded with the title of the Best Russian Exporter for the fifth time in a row. The Company's products are exported to 45 countries. Total exports sales volume in 2006, with license production, amounted 1.8 mln hl, which is 27% more that in 2005. Export sales of the Company.s products account for more than 70% of all Russian beer exports, all of which underlines the status of Baltika as an international company. Now every eighth bottle of Baltika brand beer is sold abroad.