In Russia, there is a parallel expanding alcohol market, constituting over 20% of the official one, as RBC found out. Over 10% of Russians are looking at medical drugs and lotions as an alternative to the usual vodka.
VEDK Company, one of the largest alcohol distributors in Russia, has been sold to a former top manager of Rosspirtprom. After the deal, VEDK intends to do business "in other product categories."
It took about five years for businessman Valery Yakovlev to get control over nearly half of the alcohol production in Russia. Now he is preparing to sell his assets to Rosspirtprom.