Ukraine adds spirits company Bacardi to list of war sponsors

That's according to the NACP website, Ukrinform reports.

Bacardi Limited is the world's largest privately-owned international spirits company, selling products in more than 170 countries. Among the company's well-known brands are Baron Otard, D'USSÉ brandy; Bombay gin; Bacardi rum; Cazadores tequila; Gray Goose vodka, Eristoff; whiskey Dewar's, William Lawson's, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie, Angel's Envy and other drinks (Martini, St-Germain, Bénédictine).

In total, Bacardi owns more than 200 trademarks, including the company's eponymous rum, which is the world's best-selling rum brand.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Bacardi announced a freeze on its exports to Russia and an end to investment in advertising, but this part of the post later disappeared from its official statement. Therefore, the company continued to supply its products to Russia for millions of dollars and to hire additional staff.

The exit of a number of leading international brand owners from the Russian alcohol market has reduced competition and created opportunities for those who remained. Thus, taking advantage of the situation, the Russian branch of the company, Bacardi Rus, imported $169 million worth of goods during one year of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

According to Russia's Federal Tax Service, the turnover of Bacardi Rus in 2022 grew by 8.5% to 32.6 billion roubles, and its net profit increased to 4.7 billion roubles, or 206.5% more than in 2021 (1.5 billion roubles), with more than $12 million in income tax paid to the budget of the aggressor country.

Thus, Bacardi Limited continues to pay significant taxes to the Russian budget, support its economy and sponsor aggression against Ukraine, NACP said.