In just the first eight months of 2006, ABSOLUT VODKA has broken its production record. New investments are now being made in the plant in Åhus to meet the increasing demand. During a five-year period, V&S will invest SEK 888 million in Åhus and surrounding areas.

”Spritan,” the plant in Åhus, is operating at full capacity. Two shifts have been replaced by three. During the summer, when the plant is usually closed, it ran at full capacity. Now, in the fall, it will operate on Saturdays too. Every effort is being made to meet the increasing demand from around the world for ABSOLUT VODKA.

V&S Absolut Spirits is making additional preparations to meet the increasing demand. In June, the board of directors of V&S voted to invest an additional SEK 155 million, which means that in total V&S will invest SEK 888 million in Åhus and surrounding areas during a five-year period. Last year, the new distillery in Nöbbelöv opened and now has the capacity to produce 125 million liters of vodka a year. Next year, the new bottling plant will be operational and an additional 22 million liters of ABSOLUT VODKA will be able to be bottled there a year.

“These investments ensure that we’ll be able to meet the increasing demand, which also helps to secure jobs in southern Sweden and creates new employment opportunities for the future,” says Ketil Eriksen, President V&S Absolut Spirits.

ABSOLUT VODKA is growing all over the world. On several markets, ABSOLUT VODKA is showing substantial growth. Earlier dependence on export to the US is now balanced, as the vodka from southern Sweden grows substantially outside the American market. So far this year, sales of ABSOLUT VODKA have grown with 7 percent. It looks as if 2006 will be yet another record year for ABSOLUT VODKA.

“ABSOLUT VODKA holds a strong position around the world, especially in the US, and we expect to further strengthen our position this year. The investments we’ve made in our sales organization, product development and marketing have been effective. We expect to grow even more on our other focus markets,” says Ketil Eriksen.

All brands within the V&S Absolut Spirits business area are growing. Total sales, including the newly acquired Cruzan Rum, have so far grown with 14 percent, compared to last year.

“We have never before produced so much ABSOLUT VODKA during the first eight months of a year as we have this year. We see tremendous possibilities for the ABSOLUT VODKA brand, both in the US and the rest of the world. None of this would have been possible without the commitment of the people who work with the brand,” concludes Ketil Eriksen.

For more information, please contact Marika Hjelm Siegwald, Director Corporate Communications, V&S Absolut Spirits, +46 70 377 74 02, or Kristina Hagbard, Manager Corporate Communications, V&S Absolut Spirits, +46 70 572 71 88