Johnnie Walker importer heads toward 30m-euro turnover

Sollers PPD, the domestic importer of the alcoholic drink brands part of Diageo’s portfolio, expects its turnover to reach 30 million euros this year, up 65% from 2007. These are the first figures the company announces since it was taken over by Cyprus’ biggest alcoholic drink distributor, Photos Photiades Distributors. “We’ll develop further on the premium drink market,” stated Nearchos Papacharalampous (photo), general manager of Sollers PPD, who added that two new brands would enter the company’s portfolio in the following period. The company’s official did not specify the names of the two brands, but said they would not replace the Metaxa brand, whose distribution the company lost to BDG Import. Domestically, Sollers PPD imports and distributes brands such as J&B, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Bailey’s or Captain Morgan. Last year, the company’s turnover reached almost 18m euros and is estimated to hit 30m euros in 2008. With this figure, Sollers PPD would re-enter the battle for a position among the top three importers of alcoholic drinks in Romania. The market of imported alcoholic drinks, put at over 50m euros last year, is likely to go beyond 80m euros this year, after the major players reshuffled their portfolio products.