Russian Standard buys CEDC share for $25m

Vodka company Russian Standard has purchased a 9.9% share in CEDC (Central European Distribution Corporation) for $25.35 million.

The Russian Standard brand was created by Roustam Tariko (pictured) in 1992 and it sold 2.5 million cases in 2010. 

CEDC claims to be "one of the world's largest vodka producers" and its brands include bison grass vodka Zubrowka.

According to Russian Standard's press office, the investment will allow the company "to obtain effective distribution" of its "premium vodka in [the] fifth largest vodka market – Poland, as well as in other Central/Eastern European markets".

The Russian Standard spokesperson continued: "We plan that our cooperation with CEDC in Russia, where CEDC owns largest vodka producers – such as Russian Alcohol and Parliament will allow Russian Standard to become an important player in a low and middle price vodka segment."

Russian standard is also looking at the wine segment - in a distribution capacity - and the statement concluded: "Russian distributor Whitehall, which was previously acquired by CEDC, has unique market experience, which we plan to use for entering a new segment for Roust Inc. [in] the Russian market – [the] segment of wines, which has high potential for further growth in the short term."