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15:35 23.02.2015(updated 15:47 23.02.2015)

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Japanese soft drinks vendor DyDo Drinko sees Moscow as an untapped market for vending machines, and has plans to increase the current 200 machines it has in the Russian capital, to 10,000 by 2018.

In an interview with Japanese Business Media, representatives from the Osaka-based company said that the streets of Moscow, with an official population of 11 million and rising, represent the ideal business opportunity for its drinks machines, the spendthrift ways of Muscovites ensuring a healthy profit.

"The majority of Japanese prefer to entrust savings to a financial institution, but the Russians are different," they explain. "Even if the product is expensive, they will still buy it. Perhaps its because historically people have a lack of confidence in the ruble."

"Apart from that, Russians really trust in Japanese products. They have an image of quality and usability," add DyDo, which entered the Russian market in December 2013 and currently has over 200 machines installed in Moscow, with ambitions to generate revenues of five billion yen [$42 million] on its hot and cold drinks, which cost 70-80 rubles each.

The company believes that the scope exists to install more than 200,000 machines in the city, with permission already granted by the city's government to install 90,00 in the coming year, intended to replace the less aesthetically pleasing street kiosks previously selling drinks. "If you join Moscow with the regions, that's 18 million people," sayd DyDo, pointing out that New York, with a population of eight million has 200,000 such vending machines, and Tokyo, with 13 million inhabitants, has 500,000. 

The bestselling drink on Moscow streets, according to Dydo, is Americano: "Probably because its more understandable, all our packaging is in Japanese. Its clear that the can is Americano, its written in English." Moscow residents also have a sweet tooth, say the Japanese, and like a lot of sugar in their coffee.