Non-Russian Stolichnaya Maker Rebrands Itself As Stoli

Stoli Group is renaming its Stolichnaya vodka brand as part of a broader effort to distance itself from Russia. The Luxembourg-based Stoli Group said the vodka will now be sold and marketed as Stoli, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: Stoli Group said a state-owned company in Russia continues to make a vodka called Stolichnaya which is sold in a limited number of markets.

Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, founded Stoli Group in 1997 but was exiled from Russia four years later and moved production to Latvia.

“More than anything, I wish for Stoli to represent peace in Europe and solidarity with Ukraine,” Shefler said in a statement.

Stoli Group said a state-owned company in Russia continues to make a vodka called Stolichnaya which is sold in a limited number of markets.

But Stoli Group owns the trademark rights to the Stolichnaya name in 150 countries, including the US. Stolichnaya means “from the capital city” in Russian.

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