The Dutch brewer Heineken has successfully ended contract with the Russian distributor First Federation, despite a suit from the Russian claiming Heineken reneged on a deal giving First Federation exclusive rights to import Heineken beer. A Bloomberg report said a Dutch court laid aside a US$60m suit from First Federation, after Heineken argued that the agreement with First Federation could be annulled in the event that the company began making beer in Russia.

The Amsterdam court turned down the suit, ordering First Federation to pay court costs of EUR 980. Heineken has been producing beer in Russia from St. Petersburg since February. It will be launched on to the market this month and the product will go on the market this month.

11 April, 2003