Yerevan Brandy Company to increase grape procurements in 2012

• Saturday, September 8, 11:12

 In 2012 Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) will procure 24,000 tons of grapes - 3,000 tons more than in 2011, YBC Managing Director Ara Grigoryan said during a press-conference on Friday.

He said that Sept 10 YBC will start procuring grapes in its Aygevan branch (Ararat valley), Sept 11 in Armavir branch and Sept 20 in Berd (Tavush region). Grigoryan said that in Tavush the company will buy 3,400 tons of grapes - almost all the harvest of the region.

In 2012 YBC is going to raise the procurement price by 10 AMD to 140 AMD per 1 kg in Armavir and Aygevan and to 130 AMD in Tavush. The real price of the Tavush grapes, considering their low 14.4% sugar content, is 100 AMD, but YBC is still ready to buy them in order to help the local farmers.

Grigoryan quoted President Sargsyan as saying that 140 AMD is a good price for good grapes.

He said that in the spring 2013, with the consent of Pernod Ricard, the company's shareholder, YBC will start concluding long-term (up to nine years) procurement contracts. In 2013 such contracts will make up 1/3 of all contracts.

"This will help the farmers to plan their business for a long-term future, to enlarge their vineyards and to get bigger harvests. They will also be able to borrow loans for development," Grigoryan said.

Yerevan Brandy Company is part of Pernod Ricard Group and is the biggest brandy producer and grape procurer in Armenia.