NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
St Petersburg Food & Drink Market
- St Petersburg with its population of about five million, is Russia's second largest city and the fourth largest in Europe. About one-third of all Russian imports are shipped via St Petersburg and the city serves as a base for operations throughout North West Russia.
- Industry specialists estimate the size of the retail food product market to be worth $25 billion annually for a population of 150 million.
- Despite the August 1998 crisis, the Russian food sector is one of the leading industries in the Russian economy in 1999, with a growth rate of 10%. Highest growth rates are in sugar, baby food, soft drinks and beer with rates from 20% to 120%.