The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) has added the Bermudan company Bacardi Limited to the list of international sponsors of the war, as it continues to actively operate in Russia.
According to the NAPC press service, Bacardi Limited is the largest international privately-owned alcohol company in the world, with its products being sold in over 170 countries.
Among the company's well-known brands are Baron Otard and D’USSÉ brandies, Bombay gin, Cazadores tequila, Grey Goose and Eristoff vodkas, Dewar’s, William Lawson’s, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie, Angel’s Envy whiskies, and other beverages such as Martini, St-Germain, and Bénédictine.
In total, Bacardi owns over 200 trademarks, including its eponymous rum, which is the best-selling rum brand in the world.
After the start of the major conflict, Bacardi announced the cessation of exports to Russia and a halt in advertising investments, but later this part of the statement disappeared from its official announcement.
It is noted that the company continued to supply its products to Russia for millions of dollars and was seeking new employees by publishing job vacancies.
Furthermore, the exit of several international brands from the Russian alcohol market reduced competition and created opportunities for those who remained. Taking advantage of the situation, Bacardi's Russian branch "Bacardi Rus" imported goods worth $169 million during the year of the conflict in Ukraine.
"Bacardi Rus" revenue in 2022 increased by 8.5% to 32.6 billion rubles, and net profit to 4.7 billion rubles, which is 206.5% more than in 2021 (1.5 billion rubles). Over $12 million in income tax was paid to the aggressor's budget.
Therefore, Bacardi Limited continues to pay significant taxes to the Russian budget, support the Russian economy, and sponsor aggression against Ukraine.
Over the past year, the alcohol manufacturer Bacardi has supplied its products to Russia for millions of dollars, resulting in an increase in its revenues and profits in Russia. Bacardi International, which initially announced the cessation of alcohol exports to Russia and the freeze of advertising investments after the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, saw a threefold increase in profits for its Russian branch last year.
