Pernod Ricard halts all drinks exports to Russia, 12 May 2023

French drinks company Pernod Ricard has halted all exports of its brands to Russia, bowing to public pressure following an outcry after it continued to export brands such as Jameson whiskey as war raged in Ukraine.

The decision marks a further retreat by the brand after it announced it would stop exporting Swedish vodka brand Absolut to its Russian distribution network last month.

The company, which owns more than 240 brands ranging from Beefeater gin to Perrier-Jouet champagne, announced on Friday that it had halted all exports to Russia as of the end of April. Existing stocks will take a few months to be sold locally, it said.

Pernod Ricard operates a local distribution network and employs 300 people in Russia, but a person close to the company said the subsidiary would now close and discussions were ongoing on how to handle the process.

“We are assessing how to adapt our local organisation in light of these decisions, while fully complying with all local legal regulations,” Pernod said, adding that it would “continue to support local employees during this process”.

The decision underlines the growing pressure on western consumer brands to stop operating in Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in February last year, even if the products they sell are not subject to western sanctions...