Moscow, Sept 16 - Russian vodka producer Synergy plans to double spirits sales this year despite high inflation and expects revenue will grow to $700 million, the company's chairman told Reuters.
"For 2008, we expect sales to grow to 12 million decalitres (dal). I believe total revenue will amount to around $700 million this year," Alexander Mechetin said in an interview.
Mechetin, who owns a controlling stake in Synergy, said the company was considering selling non-core businesses which include dairies, two chicken farms and a seafood factory.
"We are considering the possibility of pulling out from the dairy business in the Far East first of all to concentrate more on the spirits market," he said.
Last November Synergy, or Sinergia, became the first Russian spirits producer to float its shares on the market. It raised $190.4 million in a local initial public offering which valued the company at $1 billion.
Synergy, maker of Beluga and Russky Lyod, says it is the second-largest producer of hard liquor in Russia. Its revenues were 11.35 billion roubles ($440.3 million) in 2007.