In the second quarter of 2026, Novabev Group (ticker: BELU), Russia's largest alcohol company, strengthened its position in the super-premium segment by increasing sales of its flagship brand Beluga by 41% and boosting sales at the WineLab chain by 10%.
Key figures
- Total sales of Novabev Group amounted to 4.1 million 9L cases in the second quarter (-6%), reaching 7.4 million 9L cases for the half-year (-5.8%), as retail chains strove to optimize working capital and reduce inventory levels.
- WineLab: the number of outlets reached 2,225 in June, with sales up 9.7% in the second quarter and 9.5% for the half-year.
Highlights
- Brands in the premium and higher segments are experiencing positive growth, which is having a favorable effect on margins.
- The company's flagship vodka Beluga recorded impressive growth of 41%, further strengthening its position as a leader in the super-premium vodka market.
- Premium vodka brands continued their upward trend: Orthodox (+50%) and Belaya Sova (Snow Owl) (+7%).
- The Russian market leader in the low-premium segment, Arkhangelskaya vodka, is increasing its sales volume (+18%).
- Among non-vodka brands, the strongest growth was seen in Tête de Cheval vermouth (+7%) and the Green Baboon RTD cocktail (+772%).
- Among imported brands, ranges of Armenian Noy cognacs (+19%), Barceló rums (+18%), and Concha y Toro wines (+13%) are showing the strongest growth.
- Work continued on developing distribution and expanding the product range in national retail chains. New brand offerings, product listings and rotations were introduced in METRO, Aromatny Mir, Auchan, Bristol, Globus, Lenta, Magnit, O'KEY, Perekrestok and Pyaterochka.
- The NCR rating agency has affirmed PJSC NovaBev Group's credit rating at AA.ru, with a stable outlook.
- In June, Drink International published its Millionaires' Club 2026 international ranking for 2025, which includes spirits brands with sales exceeding one million 9-litre cases. Arkhangelskaya, Belenkaya and Tsar are featured among the top 45 global vodka brands, with Arkhangelskaya ranking in the top 10.
WineLab
- Sales increased by 9.7% for the quarter and by 9.5% in the first half of the year. This was driven by the expansion of existing stores, growth in like-for-like sales, increased traffic and the opening of new outlets.
- Like-for-like sales grew by 6.1% in the second quarter and by 5.8% for the first half of the year, with the increase in average ticket being the main driver.
- Traffic and average ticket showed positive dynamics: for the quarter, they increased by 3.1% and 6.4%, respectively, and for the first half of the year, by 2% and 7.3%. The faster growth in average ticket size is driven by rising demand for higher-priced beverages in the wine and spirits segments, as well as by inflationary factors.
- The number of outlets reached 2,225 stores by the end of June 2026.
- Downloads of the WineLab mobile app rose by 23% in the first half of the year, indicating potential for further online growth.
- The WINCLUB loyalty system has evolved to cover more than 10.7 million people, with 6.4 million of whom participate in the point-based program and personalized services.
- The customer offerings have been enhanced with four new mechanics, and personalization is the key feature of these updates: promotional items are selected based on an analysis of each customer's purchase history and preferences.
- The second flagship store in Moscow - and the third in the chain - opened in late June in the prestigious IQ Quarter. The high traffic at this new location enables the company to trial IT solutions there, including a digital AI sommelier.
Despite general market stagnation, the Novabev Group continues to deliver consistent results. Its stable performance is driven by popular brands, long-standing partnerships with suppliers and distributors, the development of its WineLab retail chain, a proactive and knowledgeable team, and a focus on innovation. Furthermore, the company is strengthening its focus on the management of working capital to enhance the group's financial stability in 2026.