The French spirits group Pernod Ricard announced a complete suspension of exports of its premium Absolut vodka to Russia, having previously reduced sales in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, various media reported that absolute was “supplying products in a quantity that can support local employees and give local entities economic sustainability”, citing a spokesperson for Pernod . The reports drew criticism in Sweden, where the vodka is made.
Pernod said in an emailed statement to Reuters that, as a result, it has made the decision to completely suspend supplies of absolute due to aduty of care towards our employees and partners”.
“We cannot expose them to mass criticism in all its forms. For this reason, The Absolut Company has decided to end the export of its brand to Russia.“, he claimed.
Like many Western consumer goods companies, Pernod Ricard stopped selling its products Russia last year, having obtained around 3% of its sales there. By limiting the supply, Pernod had been able to shield his local team from criminal liability charges, he said, citing the “intentional bankruptcy”.
Some Western companies leaving Russia have been reluctant to halt production or idle factories, fearing they will be seen as deliberately bankrupting their businesses.
However, efforts by Western brands to exit the Russian market have been complicated by Moscow’s attempts to shield consumers from Western isolation.
On Friday, Russia published a list of products from foreign automakers, tech companies and consumer brands that the government has placed in a regime of “parallel imports”.
Source: Reuters
Source: Gestion
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