Pernod Ricard To Bid For Polish Vodka Distilleries

French drinks group Pernod Ricard will probably bid for two of the more than 20 Polish distilleries scheduled for privatization in coming months, the Financial Times said Monday. The move could help Pernod resolve a tricky legal and cultural problem in Poland, where it has acquired exclusive export distribution rights for the Wyborowa and Zubrowka vodka brands in the privatization of state holding Agros. This has sparked opposition both from the distilleries and from parliament, which fear the vodka producers' attractiveness to private buyers will be reduced if they cannot market their product under the two best-known brands abroad. The Polish president has refused to sign a law voted by parliament stripping Pernod of the distribution rights, and referred it to the constitutional tribunal.