Wimm-Bill-Dunn Drinks

History

2022

Wedge Aqua acquires PepsiCo's closed plant in Moscow region

In early December 2022, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) received a petition from Wedge Aqua LLC, the main owner of the Bochkari brewing company, Vadim Smagin, for consent to receive fixed assets of Wimm-Bill-Dann Drinks JSC (VBD Drinks).

VBD Drinks produced juices at a plant in Ramenskoye near Moscow, but in 2015 the company closed, and production "moved" to the Lebedyansky Lipetsk plant

The owner of the brewery in Altai buys a closed PepsiCo plant in the Moscow region

Vadim Smagin is preparing to expand his business in the segment of soft drinks and the purchase of a plant near Moscow could potentially help increase sales in the capital, Kommersant notes in a issue dated December 6, 2022. At the same time, the niche formed after the cessation of the Coca-Cola and PepsiCo spill in Russia has not yet been filled. According to the newspaper, in the first half of 2022, the Bochkarevsky brewery in the Altai Territory produced 3.37 million dal of beer (Hmelka, Mazai and others), taking ninth place in Russia. In addition, the company produces lemonades, energy drinks, water and kvass.

According to the interlocutor of the newspaper, before the start of the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the cost of an empty production site with storage facilities was estimated at 500 million rubles. The resulting niche after the cessation of the Coca-Cola and Pepsi spill in Russia may be filled with the structure of businessman Smagin, the article specifies.

Maxim Novikov, president of the Union of Juice, Water and Beverage Producers (Soyuznapitki), says that any site has its own restrictions, including logistics, and, possibly, the owners of the Bochkarevsky plant saw an opportunity to increase sales in the center of the country. But, Mr. Novikov notes, the segment of soft drinks in Moscow and the Moscow region is already extremely competitive.^[1]

Multipro buys Wimm-Bill-Dann Drinks from PepsiCo

On May 4, 2022 FAS Russia , the Federal Antimonopoly Service () announced the approval of the sale of Wimm-Bill-Dann Drinks JSC (WBD Drinks) to the company "," Multipro- which is engaged in the production of cheeses under the Alti brand, including for the production of pizza.

According to the department, the deal will not lead to restrictions on competition in the food market, the FAS press service noted.[2]

PepsiCo sold the Russian company juice manufacturer J7 and "Favorite"

By May 4, 2022 (until the deal with Multiplro is closed), VBD Drinks belongs to the American PepsiCo, one of the largest manufacturers of food and drinks. The company was engaged in the production of juices and nectars under the brands J7, "Favorite Garden," etc. At a plant in Ramensky, Moscow Region. In 2015, the site was closed, and juice production was concentrated at the Lebedyansky plant in Lipetsk. As stated in the reports of VBD Drinks, the enterprise in Ramenskoye was mothballed and put up for sale.

On the territory of the plant in Ramenskoye there are administrative, warehouse, production and infrastructure facilities that will become the property of the new owner.

In total, the Wimm-Bill-Dann group by May 2022 produces more than 1000 types of dairy products and more than 150 types of juices, fruit nectars and still drinks. Multipro has two factories for the production of European cheeses for retail and HoReCa (hotels, restaurants and catering), according to the company's website. The company was part of the Wimm-Bill-Dann Russia Group of Companies.

PepsiCo in March 2022 announced that it was suspending sales in Russia of Pepsi and its other global beverage brands, including 7Up and Mirinda, in response to Russia's special operation in Ukraine. In addition, the company suspended new investments in the country and its advertising activities. At the same time, the company stressed that it will continue to sell essential goods in Russia - milk and other dairy products, infant formula and baby food.

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