United Spirits - From Russia With Love

United Spirits, Russia Vodka Firm In Pact

United Spirits, the spirit business arm of the $2 billion Indian drinks major UB Group, has signed a mutual marketing alliance with Russia’s leading vodka manufacturer Russian Standard. Russian Standard is the vodka manufacturing and marketing arm of Russia’s Roust Group. With this strategic alliance, the United Spirits will introduce the genuine Russian vodka brands manufactured and supplied by Russian Standard in India. While the Russian company, which has a broad distribution network in Russia and other CIS markets, will market the premium whiskey brands of United Spirits in Russia.

This marks United Spirits’ strong foray into Russia , one of Asia’s fast growing consumer markets. Vijay Mallya, chairman, UB Group said that “While Russia is a virgin market for our whiskey brands, the genuine Russian vodka manufactured and supplied by our partner will be a real value addition to our Indian portfolio.”

Roust Group’s main company — Roust Inc is a private trading company specialising in premium consumer products. It controls over 60 per cent of sales of all premium alcohol in Russia and as a long-standing exclusive distributor of premium alcohol brands like Cinzano, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s, Bailey’s, Veuve Clicquot, Jagermeister and others. Russian Standard Vodka, one of the premium vodka brand of Roust Group has a share of over 60 per cent of all local and imported premium vodkas in Russia. It is also exported in more than 20 countries including US, CIS, Italy, UK, Greece, Bulgaria and Baltic Republics.

McDowell - Three Cheers

McDowell Net Zooms Ten Times For Sep 2006 Qtr

McDowell and Company has reported a jump in net profits by 10.88 times at Rs 667.60 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 as compared with Rs 56.20 milloin for the corresponding quarter of the year ended September 30, 2005. The net sales of the company more than doubled at Rs 7534.9 million for the current quarter as compared with Rs 3076.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. The total income rose to Rs 7540 million for the current quarter as compared with Rs 3067.7 million for the corresponding quarter in the previous year. The earnings per share (EPS) stood at Rs 7.07 for the current quarter as compared with Rs 1.09 for the corresponding quarter previous year.

McDowell and Company had earlier changed its name to United Spirits. McDowell and Company (MDCL) is the spirits division of the UB Group. The company`s products include whisky, brandy, rum, gin, wine, vodka and other white spirits. It manufactures liquor and beer in several locations.