Hortitsea Vodka Plans Expansion In Ukraine

LONDON, England -- Hortitsea, the Ukrainian vodka brand, is planning more expansion after being voted the most popular vodka in Ukraine.


Danish citizen Bo Patrick Richter, who launched Hortitsea in Ukraine in 2003, said he would invest another $35m to help the brand achieve the same success in Ukraine as it has in Russia. Hortitsea had already planned to double its output to 40m litres of vodka in 2005.

Ukrainians voted it their favourite vodka brand in a poll conducted by MEMRB-IRI at the end of 2005.

And Hortitsea's modern production facilities, based near Zaporojie, is thought to have protected the brand against alcohol fraud; something that has caused problems in both the drinks industry and consumer confidence across Ukraine, as in Russia.

Hortitsea, in fact, is listed as the only vodka brand that fraudsters have never tried to illegally copy, according to the Department for the Protection of Consumer Rights.

The brand has now risen to lead Ukraine's vodka market accounting for 15 per cent of sales. Rival brand Nemiroff sits second with a 12 per cent share of sales volume, while Soyuz-Victan and Medoff come next with a nine per cent share each. Two other brands, Bilenika and Hlebnyi are tied on a seven per cent share.

Analysts estimate Ukraine's vodka market to be around 350m litres, with a third of production exported.

Source: CEE Food Industry