YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite the global financial and economic crisis, sales of the Yerevan Brandy Company's (YBC) production rose by 8% in the first half of last financial year (July - December 31, 2008) and amounted to 2.6 million liters, former CEO of YBC Cedric Retailleau announced at the January 22 press conference. According to him, the increase was mostly conditioned by growing rates of sales of "Ararat" brandy in Armenian, Russian and Baltic markets. In particular, sales in Russia grew by 14%, in Armenia by 4% and in Baltic states by 16% in the indicated period as compared with July-December 2007. In the same period sales of "Ararat" brandy were also up in Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. "This growth proves once again that "Ararat" is a leader in the brandy market," C. Retailleau pointed out. In his words, the YBC increases the purchase of grapes with every passing year: in 2008 it purchased 31 thousand tons of grapes, which was more by 7% on the previous year. He said that every year the YBC invests about 5 million dollars for modernization of its production and technological processes and about 15 million dollars for purchase of grapes and replenishment of spirit supplies. As of the first half of 2008-2009, the YBC made investments of nearly 2 million dollars to modernize production and technological processes. Responding to the question about whether Armenia is an attractive country in terms of establishing a business, C. Retailleau replied that Armenia is a country where all the opportunities to start a new business exist. He said that one convincing eveidence is the example of Pernod Ricard company whose investments made 10 years ago have benefited not only Pernod Ricard and the Yerevan Brandy Company but also the respective sector of Armenian agriculture, in particular, the viticulture.

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