The SPI Group's retail chains are an important part of its success. The retail chains in Latvia and Lithuania give the group direct access to hundreds of thousands of consumers. Store staff work closely with group marketing staff to organise product tastings and promotions - driving sales as well as providing essential customer feedback which helps with new product development.

Bravo runs SPI's retail network in Latvia. With 45 specialist shops in Riga and other major cities, it is the third biggest retail chain in the country. This year (2007) Bravo plans to expand by 10%.

Trading under the Latvijas Balzams brand, the chain ensures that the group has a direct channel to consumers. More than 400,000 people visits the shops each month. The stores stock the full range of drinks produced in our Latvijas Balzams distillery as well as non-alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and confectionery.

Darija runs the Gerimu Pasaulis chain in Lithuania. Starting with one store in Marijampole - the first self-service shop in Lithuania specialising in drinks - the chain has rapidly grown to today's 27 outlets. The trademark of Gerimu Pasaulis is a globe in a glass - symbolising the chain's determination to provide Lithuanian consumers with drinks from around the world.

Arvis Jansons, General Manager for Baltic Retail (Riga, Latvia)
As general manager of Bravo, Arvis Janson runs the SPI Group’s retail network in Latvia. He joined SPI in 2002 after five years working for Rema, the Norwegian retail company. Before that, he had been a professional sportsman in the Norwegian national bobsled team.