Polmos
Encyclopedia
Polmos was a Polish
state-owned monopoly
, controlling the Polish market for vodka
and other spirits. Founded in the late 1920s, until World War II
it was one of the leading vodka producers in Poland. Its distilleries at that time were the most modern in the region, which allowed the company to export its products to many other countries around Europe.
After World War II
the company became a true monopoly as all other distilleries were nationalized by the communist authorities of Poland and assumed by Polmos. In 1990 the monopoly was divided onto several independent companies, each owning one of the distilleries and one of the best-selling brands of Polish spirits. Currently the companies are being privatized and only 5 remain state-owned.
In 2001 Pernod Ricard purchased Polmos Poznan, the home of Wyborowa vodka, and in 2008, after the acquisition of V&S, it also integrated Polmos Zielona Gora into the company.
Among the best-known descendants of Polmos are:
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
state-owned monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
, controlling the Polish market for vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
and other spirits. Founded in the late 1920s, until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was one of the leading vodka producers in Poland. Its distilleries at that time were the most modern in the region, which allowed the company to export its products to many other countries around Europe.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the company became a true monopoly as all other distilleries were nationalized by the communist authorities of Poland and assumed by Polmos. In 1990 the monopoly was divided onto several independent companies, each owning one of the distilleries and one of the best-selling brands of Polish spirits. Currently the companies are being privatized and only 5 remain state-owned.
In 2001 Pernod Ricard purchased Polmos Poznan, the home of Wyborowa vodka, and in 2008, after the acquisition of V&S, it also integrated Polmos Zielona Gora into the company.
Among the best-known descendants of Polmos are:
- Polmos Poznan - Wyborowa vodka, Exquisite, Goldwasser
- Polmos Zielona Gora - Luksusowa vodkaLuksusowa vodkaLuksusowa is a Polish brand of vodka distilled from potatoes.The fact that it is distilled from potatoes makes it unusual in the contemporary vodka market, which is dominated by grain spirits. Wódka Luksusowa is also available in 50% ethanol version "Luksusowa black". Also in flavoured variety...
, Siwucha - Polmos Starogard Gdanski - Destylarnia Sobieski SA - owner of KrupnikKrupnikKrupnik, or Krupnikas as it is known in Lithuanian, is a traditional sweet alcohol similar to a liqueur, based on grain spirit and honey, popular in Poland and Lithuania. Mass produced versions consist of 40%-50% alcohol, but traditional versions will use 80% - 100% grain alcohol as the base...
and producer of Sobieski vodkaSobieski VodkaSobieski Vodka is produced in Poland from rye . It is named after Jan III Sobieski, a 17th century Polish king and military leader. Sobieski has been distilled since 1864. It comes in variety of flavours such as: Original , Peach, Mandarin, Vanilla, Melon, etc... - Kompania Spirytusowa "Wratislavia" Polmos Wrocław - owner of Krakus vodka
- Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek Polmos in SiedlceSiedlceSiedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship ....
- owner of Chopin vodkaChopin vodkaChopin vodka is a single-ingredient vodka, 4 times distilled from potatoes grown in the Polish region of Podlasie. It is produced by Siedlce-based Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek Polmos. Chopin was first introduced to North America in 1997. The production is done in small batches... - Polmos BiałystokPolmos BiałystokPolmos Białystok is one of the largest producers of alcoholic beverages in Poland. As of 2010, the firm's president was Henryk Wnorowski. Between 2005 and 2007 the company's stock was traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange....
- sole owner of Absolwent vodka and ŻubrówkaZubrówkaŻubrówka , also known in English as Buffalo Grass Vodka or Bison Grass Vodka, is a brand of dry, herb-flavored vodka that is distilled from rye and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume... - Polmos Bielsko-BiałaBielsko-Biała-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
- owner of Żytnia vodka, currently produced under the name of Extra Żytnia - Polmos Kraków - owner of Cracovia Vodka
- Polmos Lublin - owner of Żołądkowa Gorzka
- Polmos Łańcut - owner of Rosolis and Polonaise vodka
- Polmos Łódź - owner of Prezydent vodka
- Polmos Toruń - owner of Copernicus vodka
- Polmos Sieradz - owner of Jarzebiak vodka and Ratafia vodka
- Polmos Szczecin - producer of StarkaStarkaStarka is a traditional dry vodka distilled from rye grain, produced mostly in Poland and Lithuania. Traditional Starka is made from natural rye spirit and aged in oak barrels with small addition of lime-tree and apple-tree leaves. The process of production is similar to that used in whisky...
aged vodka and Gin Pomorski - Polmos Warszawa - the sole producer of rectified spiritRectified spiritA rectified spirit, rectified alcohol, or neutral spirit is highly concentrated ethanol which has been purified by means of repeated distillation, a process that is called rectification. It typically contains 95% alcohol by volume...
in Poland