Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman Corp said on Thursday it has paused hiring for its own distribution business in Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The company, which gets about 1% of its sales from Russia and has about 80 employees in the country, said on an earnings call it had initially planned to hire more workers for its own distribution business there, which was set to be operational in July.
Spirits And Wine
Currently, Brown-Forman sells its spirits and wine through third-party sellers in Russia. The company did not comment on whether it would stop sales in the country.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its second week and more than one million refugees have now fled Ukraine. Many US companies have been withdrawing sales and pausing operations in both countries since the start of the invasion.
Diageo Pauses Exports
Earlier today, Brown-Forman's European peer Diageo paused exports to both the countries and said its priority is the safety of its people in Ukraine and the wider region.
The maker of Smirnoff vodka and Guinness, has paused exports to Ukraine and Russia, the company said on Thursday.
"Our priority is the safety of our people in Ukraine and the wider region," a spokesperson said.
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more drinks stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
