Olga Belyavtseva (Ольга Белявцева) is a Russian businesswoman who has had tremendous success in the food industry. Belyavtseva’s net worth is a significant fortune of US$500 million. Known for consistently increasing her business activity, and for being proactive in her investments, Belyavtseva has become a highly regarded businesswoman in Russia.
Besides Elena Baturina, Olga Belyavtseva is the only other woman who is ranked as one of the wealthiest Russians according to Forbes.
Early Life and Career
Despite her current status as a millionaire, and one of the top two wealthiest women in Russia, Olga Belyavtseva had humble beginnings. In the 1990s she began working at the Ministry of Fruit and Vegetable Production in Russia as a packer in the fruit cannery. She gained experience in the industry and was soon promoted through the ranks. Belyavtseva took this opportunity to advance her career and became an economist. In later years she made the decision to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.
LLC Assol and Lebedyansky
In 2000 Olga Belyavtseva launched LLC Assol, a distribution company. LLC Assol started product distribution for Lebedyansky, a juice manufacturer that was started at the plant where Belyavtseva worked as a packer. The distribution route eventually stretched across 24 regions in Russia and after four years of operation, Belyavtseva’s company merged with Lebedyansky, making Belyavtseva part owner of the juice manufacturer. At this time close to 20% of Lebedyansky’s products were sold through Assol, who also started supplying Lebedyansky with cardboard packaging and sugar. Belyavtseva was compensated with a 19.9% share in the juice manufacturing company.
In 2005, Lebedyansky made shares publically available, and in 2008 PepsiCo and Pepsi Bottling Group bought a 75.5% stake for US$1.4 million. According to Forbes, Belyavtseva gained around US$330 million for her stake in the company. At the time of the deal, Lebedyansky owned 75% shares of a company called Progress Capital, which produced Frutonyania baby food and Lipetsk Pump mineral water. This was not included in the deal with Pepsi, leaving Belyavtseva and the other former shareholders of Lebedyansky as controlling shareholders of the company. With 35% shares in Progress Capital, Olga Belyavtseva is actively involved in developing Progress Capital.
Other Investments
In addition to the baby food and mineral water markets, Olga Belyavtseva has a range of other business interests. Along with the other former shareholders of Lebedyansky, Belyavtseva created an investment fund named Polaris. Through a capital of around US$1 billion, they are rumored to have made several investments in other industries. Although it has not been disclosed, it is speculated that this includes significant investments in real estate. Through Assol LLC, Belyavtseva has also invested in a cardboard and packaging plant named Beepack and a plastic production plant named Beeplast. Beeplast produces plastic chairs and other products for IKEA, manufactures plastic components for Indesit refrigerators and washing machines and Barrier filters, and much more.
Personal Life
Olga Belyavtseva is married and has children.