OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2011. Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC [NYSE: WBD], Russia’s leading producer of healthy food and beverage products, today announced the acquisition of Opolie Holding Company CJSC in Vladimir region, Central Russia. Opolie is a leading milk processor in the region and ranks among Russia’s top-10 dairy companies. 

This acquisition is in line with Wimm-Bill-Dann’s stated strategy of expanding its business through the purchase of successful companies with strong market positions in their respective regions and a sustainable raw-milk supply base. Opolie Holding Company consists of three milk plants in Yuriev Polsky, Lakinsk and Suzdal, processing a total of over 300 tons of milk per day. 

“The acquisition of a rapidly developing company in the Vladimir region is in line with our strategic objective of buying companies that are leaders in their local markets,” said Silviu Popovici, vice president of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods, commenting on the deal. “Its modern production facilities and well developed business will bolster our position in Central Russia, where a large proportion of our consumers live, and its high-quality dairy products are a perfect fit for our portfolio,” he added.

Opolie was founded in 1993. The company’s products have a customer base both within and beyond Vladimir region. Opolie has provided ongoing support and assistance to local farms, which has served to increase the stability of its raw-material supplies. It has developed a “field-to-shelf” supply chain that has permitted it become the leading consumer-sector company in the region.

Products manufactured by Opolie-owned Yuriev-Polsky, Suzdal and Lakinsk dairy plants have a reputation for excellent taste high quality. The company has managed to maintain the best traditions of dairy production while also fully utilizing new technology and modern equipment. Opolie has an up-do-date product line with an extensive range of natural products catering to every taste, including milk, kefir, ryazhenka, yogurts and other products under the Opolie, Vivio and BioLight brands. A unified quality system ensures that all products manufactured by these plants are equally tasty and healthy.