Early Life
Yuri Shefler was born on September 10, 1967, in Oryol, Russia. Little is known about his early life. Shefler holds citizenship in Russia, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
Rise to Success
Shefler's career began after leaving the Soviet Army in 1987. He transitioned into business, engaging in ventures such as vouchers and petty trade. He co-founded the Sadko-Arkada trading house and later became a shareholder in Vnukovo Airlines, Nafta-Moscow, GUM, and TSUM.. The acquisition of the Stolichnaya vodka brand in 1997 was a pivotal move that significantly boosted his wealth and global presence, later resulting in a legal dispute. Shefler built SPI Group into a successful international alcohol consortium with over 380 brands.
Key Business Strategies
Shefler's primary business strategy involved building a vertically integrated spirits conglomerate, encompassing production, distribution, and sales. He acquired distilleries and expanded his retail network. He diversified his portfolio to include a range of spirits and entered real estate and other ventures. In 2021, Shefler divided his alcohol business into two companies: Stoli Group and Amber Beverage Group.
Philanthropy
Information on Yuri Shefler's philanthropic activities is limited in the search results. It is known that his companies provided support to the Ukrainian military, resulting in accusations of extremism by Russian authorities.
