Russian Association of Beer Producers' changes name

MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - The Association of Beer Producers, which unites the largest players in the Russian brewing market, AB InBev Efes, Baltika, and Heineken United Brewery, has decided to update its name.

The group is now called the Beer, Malt and Beverage Producers Association. This name is intended to more comprehensively reflect the organization's development strategy, the impact of its members on adjacent markets, the agro-industrial complex and the economy as a whole, the group's latest press release says.

"This is a logical and sensible decision, considering the significance of the association to the brewing and related industries and the contribution that its members make to the country's economy," Vyacheslav Mamontov, executive director of the association, was quoted in the press release as saying.

"The members of the Association are actively developing their own agricultural programs for growing brewing barley, fully covering the production needs in it, cooperating with local farms and are important players in the agro-industrial sector," he said. "The product lines of the companies have for a long time been not just limited to one brewed product. In order to best meet the needs of consumers, members are systematically developing product portfolios, supplementing them with non-alcoholic, energy and other categories of drinks," he said.

The tasks of the association include ensuring the stable functioning of the industry and creating favorable conditions for the development of the brewing industry in Russia, protecting the interests of producers of beer and other beverages. The work of the association is also aimed at the development of the agricultural industry and agricultural programs, the press release said.

According to Rosalkogolregulirovanie, Russian breweries produced 704.1 million deciliters of beer in 2022, which is the same as in 2021. Total production of beer and beer drinks reached 802.5 million decaliters, which is 0.3% more than a year earlier. At the same time, the production of beer drinks increased 2.5% to 98.4 million decaliters.