Ukrainian producer of vodka Nemiroff sued the Penza plant

The Ukrainian spirits producer Nemiroff has demanded that the former Russian partner United Penza Vodka Plants (OPVZ) stop using the brand, should from the files of court cases.

The lawsuit was filed with the court on June 6. A hearing on the suit has been scheduled for November 2.

Nemiroff Intellectual Property Establishment demands that the use of the Nemiroff brand by the Penza plant in the production and sale of products after February 1, 2022 be recognized as a violation of its rights. After the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the Ukrainian manufacturer revoked the license to produce drinks under its own brand in Russia.

To claim drew the attention of Kommersant. The newspaper’s source on the market claims that, despite the revocation of the license, OPVZ apparently continued to bottle alcohol under the Nemiroff brand.

From the Rosaccreditation register, it follows that since the beginning of 2023, the Penza plant has received several declarations for the production of various lines of vodkas and tinctures called Nemiroff. The interlocutor of Kommersant admitted that informal agreements could be maintained between OPVZ and Nemiroff, allowing the former partner in Russia to use the brand. According to him, the lawsuit could be risk insurance, otherwise Nemiroff would have filed financial claims as well.

A newspaper source on the market notes that Nemiroff ranks 11th in terms of sales among vodka brands in Russia. The owner of the Kaufman brand agency, Stanislav Kaufman, in a conversation with the publication, considered that it would be extremely difficult to replace such a popular brand.

After February 2022, the Global Spirits holding (Khortytsya brand) also revoked the license for the production of alcoholic beverages in the markets of Russia and Belarus. After that, Russian companies launched the Horta brand.