Yerevan /Mediamax/. Leadership of Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) follows the development of the situation in the Russian market attentively and is ready to take up adequate measures.

Answering the question of Mediamax, new General Director of YBC Ara Grigoryan, who had headed “Pernod Ricard Ukraine” Company before that, said about this today.

He noted that the company now does not take any steps, conditioned by the crisis in Russia, which is the largest market for YBC, and only carries out careful monitoring of the situation.

“The point is first of all the change of the Russian ruble rate to dollar. If in the course of a year the rate undergoes serious changes, the fact will require corresponding decisions from us”, Ara Grigoryan stated. At that he expressed hope that people, who love Armenian cognac, will not shift to other drinks. “I do not rule out the possibility that the ones who love “Nairi” may temporarily shift to “Akhtamar”, but in any case our consumers will stay with us”, Ara Grigoryan stated. 

Answering the question of Mediamax, Chief Executive Officer of “Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe” Company Eric Laborde stated that, despite the crisis, the sales of “ArArAt” cognac in the Russian market in the second half of 2008 increased by 14%. 

Eric Laborde stressed that “ArArAt” is “an absolutely strategic brand for “Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe” and “our absolute priority in Russia”. He also noted that “Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe” has elaborated particular measures, aiming at supporting “ArArAt” brand in 2009.

The previous Head of YBC Cedric Retailleau, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer of “Pernod Ricard Venezuela” Company, presented today certain results of YBC work in the second half of 2008. The total increase of sales made 8%, the production volume – 2.6mln liters. The growth of sales in Russia made 14%, in Armenia – 4%, in Baltic States – 16%. Stirring up of sales is registered in Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

In the second half of 2008, the investments in improving production and technology processes at YBC made $2mln.