Grocery stores, including Woodman’s, pull Russian vodka from shelves amid Ukrainian invasion

March 2, 2022 4:01 AM

Leah Linscheid, Site staff,

Posted: March 2, 2022 4:01 AM

Updated: March 2, 2022 10:14 PM

by Leah Linscheid, Site staff

MADISON, Wis. — Grocery stores are pulling Russian vodka from shelves as that country’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine continues into a second week.

Wisconsin-based Woodman’s said in a Facebook post it will discontinue its lines of Russian vodka. Customers can get more information at their local store.

Kroger, the parent company of Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market, announced a similar move, saying it removed Russian-produced vodka from shelves over the weekend.

In addition, the company is “sending emergency food assistance to support refugees through a grant from The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation to the UN World Food Programme’s Ukraine Emergency Fund,” it said on Twitter. “We will match all gifts made by our associates and customers, up to $250,000.”

As America’s grocer, we're taking action to show our support and solidarity with Ukraine 🇺🇦. Over the weekend, we removed Russian-produced vodka from our shelves, and today, we are sending emergency food assistance to support refugees through a grant

— Kroger News (@KrogerNews) March 1, 2022

Total Wine & More said it has removed all Russian-made products from its stores as well.

Russian vodka has been making headlines across the U.S. as Russian President Vladimir Putin leads an invasion into Ukraine. U.S. governors and lawmakers around the country have moved to ban Russian liquor and pull investments from Russian companies.

Lawmakers in Ohio, Utah and New Hampshire have called for stores to stop selling Russian-made products like vodka. Other stores have resorted to pouring out their Russian vodka.

Several national news outlets report the moves are largely symbolic. According to CNN, many Russian vodkas are only Russian by name and are actually made in neighboring countries.