Beluga Public Joint Stock : GROUP and Vranken-Pommery Monopole partnership expanded with three brands

BELUGA GROUP continues to step up its foreign brand portfolio by adding legendary names to it. In September 2021, the group entered into an agreement with the French company Vranken-Pommery Monopole Group for the exclusive distribution of Pommery, Château La Gordonne, and Pink Flamingo wines in Russia. This expands the partnership between BELUGA GROUP and Vranken-Pommery Monopole to four brands, in addition to Champagne Vranken.

Pommery is the flagship brand of Vranken-Pommery Monopole, created in 1836 in the French city of Reims, Champagne province. Over the course of 185 years, Maison Pommery has been responsible for many innovations, the main one being the creation of the first commercially successful Brut Champagne in 1874. The Pommery estate includes a winery and 18 kilometres of cellars - the former Gallo-Roman underground quarries connected by tunnels offer the perfect conditions for Champagne maturation, and neighbours a 25-vineyard, Les Clos Pompadour. In 2002, Pommery joined Vranken Monopole Group, thus the latter was renamed Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Today Pommery is marketed in over 130 countries, being one of the ten most recognizable brands in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. BELUGA GROUP will present to the Russian market a collection of 12 Pommery Champagnes, including the premium Louise line.

Château La Gordonne is a French brand from Pierrefeu, Provence region, specializing in rosé wines. Slate soils and the area's unique microclimate, perfect for vine cultivation, were appreciated back in the 1st millennium BC. Today Château La Gordonne is one of the most important Vranken estates that includes 315 hectares of vineyards featuring traditional Provence varieties such as Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. All grapes are harvested by hand. Modern production methods with pneumatic Champenois-style presses make it possible to create the highest quality rosé wines, encapsulating the uniqueness of the terroir. BELUGA GROUP will market the brand's two key products in Russia: La Chapelle Gordonne Rosé and Vérité du Terroir Rosé.

Pink Flamingo is a young brand from Camargue. The French region is known for its nature park - the only nesting ground of pink flamingos in Europe, which is reflected in the brand's name. The vineyards occupy 1,750 hectares of sandy soils, between the sea, lagoons, and salt marshes. The production is fully certified according to organic winemaking standards. BELUGA GROUP's import portfolio will include two still Pink Flamingo wines: Bio Gris and Bio Gris de Gris, - and two sparkling wines: Sparkling Rosé and Sparkling Blanc.

Statement of Alexander Mechetin, CEO of BELUGA GROUP: 'Wine distribution still has a lot of potential for our business. We continue developing our wine portfolio and strengthening our partnership with Vranken-Pommery Monopole. We are expanding the collection of brands marketed in Russia on an exclusive basis with sophisticated French sparkling wines from Pommery and highly promising rosé wines from Château La Gordonne and Pink Flamingo. We are happy to include these excellent brands in our import portfolio and hope to achieve ambitious results: our goal is to double Pommery sales in three years and to successfully introduce two rosé brands to the Russian market.'

Paul-François Vranken, CEO of Vranken-Pommery Monopole Group: 'Our company has been introducing global consumers to unique French wines for 45 years. We are excited to expand our partnership with BELUGA GROUP, which has been representing Vranken champagnes in Russia for four years. I am certain that our partners' extensive expertise in the premium segment and a strong distribution network will allow us to introduce Russian consumers to amazing French brands and exceptional wines from our collection.'