This Russian Company Is Making Stalin-Flavored Soda
- 6 years ago
Meet the Russian soda company that's using Joseph Stalin's image to sell their product.
Stalin is usually known for killing millions in prison camps and through mass starvation. But Tigran Arutyunov, Elita-Mineral's head of production, argues that's not all he should be known for. "Stalin is best known for winning WWII," says Arutyunov. "By winning the war, we saved the whole world. This, in fact, makes him legendary."
Not everyone in Russia is happy with the marketing — but others say they don't mind it, and they like the soda's taste. Sales have been good, with the company producing 120,000 bottles for the first order. And Arutynov knows one person who he thinks would have been happy with the product. "I think Stalin would've liked the soda," he says. "He certainly wouldn't have had us shot."
Stalin is usually known for killing millions in prison camps and through mass starvation. But Tigran Arutyunov, Elita-Mineral's head of production, argues that's not all he should be known for. "Stalin is best known for winning WWII," says Arutyunov. "By winning the war, we saved the whole world. This, in fact, makes him legendary."
Not everyone in Russia is happy with the marketing — but others say they don't mind it, and they like the soda's taste. Sales have been good, with the company producing 120,000 bottles for the first order. And Arutynov knows one person who he thinks would have been happy with the product. "I think Stalin would've liked the soda," he says. "He certainly wouldn't have had us shot."