MOSCOW, Aug 3 ― As the world's biggest soft drinks makers cut their Russian ties, local producer Chernogolovka is aiming for a 50 per cent share of the country's near US$9 billion market, its boss told Reuters.
The privately-owned company is more than doubling its business this year, its CEO Natalia Sakhnina said in an interview, and expects to reach a 30 per cent market share within two years, up from around 8.5 per cent at the end of 2021. PepsiCo suspended soda production and sales in Russia in March, one of many Western consumer brands to curtail operations after Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
Cola push Newly launched cola brands, including Chernogolovka's and competitor Ochakovo's CoolCola, jumped to a 5 per cent share of sales in the category in the first half of 2022, NielsenIQ Russia said. To meet the anticipated ramp up in demand, Chernogolovka is building a 40,000 square metre production plant in the town. The facility will cost over 3 billion roubles and its first stage is slated for completion in March 2023.Chernogolovka started supplying soft drinks to the Russian outlets of Burger King and KFC in April.
Like all Russian companies, Chernogolovka faced supply headaches after Western governments and companies targeted Russia with sanctions and restrictions, Sakhnina said, adding that aluminium lids and adhesive labels were a particular issue.