Russia: No. 2 brewer Sun Interbrew has launched local production of its main brand, Stella Artois, in Russia, the company announced on April 12. The beer will be bottled at the company's Novocheboksar plant in Chuvashia to reduce transport costs. Sales of the premium label were up 114 % last year, the company said. Previously Stella Artois was imported to Russia from Ukraine. Ukrainian Stella Artois is brewed at Desna Brewery, Chernigov owned by Sun Interbrew Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Sun Interbrew announced that all of its Russian production and distribution companies, with the exception of its Bavaria Brewery, have been merged into OAO SUN Interbrew.

Beer sales in Russia increased 17.6% in January-February this year up to 10.17 million hl versus the same period last year, according to Interfax.

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