Anti-trust office closes tap on CEDC-Lublin merger

"As a leading spirits distributor and producer in Poland, CEDC could gain too strong a position in the local market on the back of this acquisition," the anti-monopoly office's statement said. CEDC already owns two vodka makers in Poland – Polmos Bialystok and Bols. It also owns more than ten wholesale outlets of alcohol across Poland. In the statement the Office claimed that by taking over Polmos Lublin, which is the owner of the Zoladkowa Gorzka flavored vodka brand, CEDC would see its Polish market share to rise to far above 40 percent, potentially "significantly threatening" competition in the industry. As the statement underlined, the acquisition of the Zoladkowa Gorzka brand would give CEDC group five of the ten most popular vodka brands in Poland. (WBJ)