Nemiroff Vodka Expands Western Exports Despite War and Logistics Challenges
Nemiroff vodka, Ukraine's largest spirits export brand, continues to expand its presence in major Western markets despite the ongoing war. CEO Yuriy Sorochynskyi reported that UK sales rose 24% to £6.25 million, with Nemiroff listed in major chains including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and the Co-op, as well as duty-free outlets at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
The company faced significant challenges when a container holding 17,000 bottles was bombed at the Odesa port, alongside another supplier shipment. Sorochynskyi described such damage as now being business as usual amid the conflict. Since Ukraine ceased sales in Russia and immediately terminated licensed production there, Nemiroff's global sales reached 4.4 million cases this year, recovering from a low of 2.4 million in 2022 following Ukraine's exit from the Russian and Belarus markets. For comparison, in 2010, global sales were about 10 million cases.
Logistics have notably shifted from sea to trucking due to the Black Sea blockade, with four months spent identifying alternative routes. The Ukrainian government, supported by the European Union, is investing in expanding railway infrastructure to facilitate exports. Recently opened standard-gauge lines to Hungary and Slovakia in September enhance connectivity, and plans are underway for a line to Poland by 2027 along with expanded rail access to Romania's Black Sea ports.
Nemiroff's distillery, located in Nemyriv, Vinnytsia oblast, traces its roots back to 1752. Current ownership includes Yakov and Bella Finkelstein and Anatoliy Kipish, following the ousting of the Glus family in 2013. The brand also engages in sports sponsorships, including supporting boxer Oleksandr Usyk and maintaining partnerships with Premier League football clubs Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham, and Everton.
