The Prodal group, producer and distributor of the Stalinskaya and Wembley brands, estimates its budgets will maintain their 2008 level this year. Prodal posted €29 million in net sales in 2008, up 23.4 percent year-on-year. For 2009, one of the company's main objectives is expanding the business on the Bulgarian market, according to company officials.

Prodal allocated €300,000 for the promotion and positioning of the Bulgarian business. Last year's results support the optimism of group officials regarding the evolution of the business, in spite of the current economic context, affected by the recession.

"In 2008, Stalinskaya registered an upward trend in terms of market share, posting three percentage point annual growth compared to 2007, to 31 percent from 28 percent in terms of volume, and to 36 percent from 34 percent in terms of value, according to Nielsen [market research company] data," said Prodal's General Manager, Florin Radulescu.

The company official added that the value of the market on all four categories on which the group is operating (vodka, gin, brandy, and colorless alcoholic drinks) amounted to some €350 mln in 2008, and will maintain this level in 2009.

Source: Standard.ro