Coca Cola HBC AG (CCH.L) began making a local cola, Dobry Cola, in Moscow after stopping production and sales of Coca-Cola Co products after the heavy exodus of Western companies earlier this year.
Dobry has been a juice brand in Russia but Coca-Cola HBC, which separates from Coca-Cola Co, stated earlier this month it was looking to extend existing local brands via its Multon Partners business.
Coca-Cola HBC mentioned in a statement, Dobry Cola has no connection with Coca-Cola or the Coca-Cola Co.”
The Coca-Cola Co has a 23% stake in Coca-Cola HBC.
Several reports on Friday have quoted the founder of Russian fast-food chain Teremok, which serves traditional cuisine such as borscht and blinis, as saying he had received notification from the company about “Dobry Cola”, and was trying to sell it in his restaurants.
Meanwhile, local competitors to Coca-Cola have stormed the market since the company left Moscow after it has sent thousands of army men into Ukraine, while Western companies face years of court battles fighting against knock-offs.
Coca Cola HBC had been depleting its stock of Coca-Cola products since placing its last order for concentrate in March.