# Russia’s Ochakovo ups soft drink bottling capacity as Western rivals leave Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-18 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Russian Soft Drink Producer Ochakovo Seizes Market Gap Left Meta Description: Ochakovo increases CoolCola and Fancy soft drink production to 125 million decalitres a year, seizing opportunity in Russia's market shift. URL: https://financedigest.com/russias-ochakovo-ups-soft-drink-bottling-capacity-as-western-rivals-leavehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-18t133955z2lynxmpei7h0hcrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-russia-ochakovo-1736815438875-compressed.jpg) MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian drinks producer Ochakovo on Thursday said it had increased the annual bottling capacity of its CoolCola, Fancy and Street soft drinks by 2.5 times to try and plug the gap in the market left by exiting Western brands. A mass exodus of Western firms due to sanctions and restrictions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine has created an unexpected opportunity for Russian businesses and entrepreneurs. Although fizzy drinks made by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are still available in Russia, they are set to disappear over time as stocks are run down, leaving local manufacturers to step in. Ochakovo, which [produces beer](https://www.financedigest.com/top-diamond-producer-de-beers-names-equinors-cook-as-new-ceo.html "Top diamond producer De Beers names Equinor’s Cook as new CEO"), juices and carbonated soft drinks similar to Coke, Fanta and Sprite, said it had increased bottling capacity to 125 million decalitres a year from 50 million. We have adapted production lines, increased their number, widened production geography and [continue to hire](https://www.financedigest.com/optable-continues-on-growth-trajectory-with-senior-hires.html "Optable continues on growth trajectory with senior hires") staff,” CEO Yuri Antonov said in a statement. We are capable of [replacing the volumes of brands that have left the market.”](https://www.financedigest.com/the-small-joint-replacement-market-to-grow-on-an-innovatively-affable-note-from-2018-2028.html "The Small Joint Replacement Market To Grow On An Innovatively Affable Note From 2018-2028") Rival Chernogolovka is aiming for a 50% [share of Russia’s nearly $9 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/abb-to-launch-1-billion-share-buyback-on-april-3.html "ABB to launch billion share buyback on April 3") soft drinks market now that Coca-Cola is reducing operations, its CEO told Reuters this month. The company started making Cola Chernogolovka in May. Newly launched cola brands, including Ochakovo and Chernogolovka, [jumped to a 5% share of sales](https://www.financedigest.com/indias-tata-motors-jumps-to-a-7-month-high-on-strong-q4-jlr-sales.html "India’s Tata Motors jumps to a 7-month high on strong Q4 JLR sales") in the category in the first half of 2022, NielsenIQ Russia said. Coca-Cola HBC AG, one of Coca-Cola’s many bottlers worldwide, last week said it took a one-time hit of 190 million euros ($193 million) in the first [half from costs related to its Russian business after it stopped selling Coke and other products](https://www.financedigest.com/over-half-of-britons-say-loyalty-cards-encourage-them-to-buy-a-product-niq.html "Over half of Britons say loyalty cards encourage them to buy a product – NIQ") in Russia. Western companies with iconic brands like Coca-Cola that exit [Russia face](https://www.financedigest.com/gold-investors-face-bind-over-bars-from-tarnished-russia.html "Gold investors face bind over bars from tarnished Russia") years of battling knockoffs and unauthorised imports clamouring to fill the void they leave behind, as well as courts with little sympathy for firms that depart. ($1 = 0.9841 euros) (Reporting by Olga Popova; writing by Alexander Marrow; editing by Jason Neely) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---