Donskoy Tabak, the Russian largest independent tobacco manufacturer based in the south-Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, plans to invest US$ 10 million in the development of its distribution network, 43 per cent more year-on-year.

The company’s general director, Sergey Sapotnitsky, said in an interview to the local press that the investment programme is meant to strengthen the company’s position in the central federal district and further to the north, where Donskoy Tabak’s presence on the market is still much weaker than in the south.
According to Sapotnitsky, the company’s strategic goal is to increase its market share in Russia from the current 4.5 per cent to 7 per cent by the year 2008. (vt)