Experts Expect Boom On Russian Juice Market

The Russian juice market is rising at a record speed this year. However, juice producers have to compete with cheap non-alcohol soda beverages. According to analysts, the highest sales volumes of juice are usually registered in winter (during the New Year and Christmas holidays) and in summer. Still, according to data of marketing companies, juice sales volumes are 15-20 per cent higher in summer than in winter. After the 1998 crisis, a rise resumed on the Russian juice market only in January 1999. The ACNielsen marketing company reported that sales volumes of juice were 20 per cent higher at the beginning of 2001 as compared to the corresponding period in 1000. The leader of this market in Russia is Wimm Bill Dann with its brands J7 and Golden Premium. According to optimistic forecasts, the Russian juice market will experience a 12 per cent rise this year. In the opinion of experts, the main reason of this upsurge is general improvement in the living standard of Russian citizens, the Vremya Novostey newspaper reported.