News outlet Mash is reporting that American battery manufacturer Duracell will return to Russia under a new brand name at the end of September, according to sources.
The new brand will be called Opticell, and the Duracell bunny will be replaced by a red bear. The prices of the batteries will reportedly be double, increasing from 50 rubles to 100 rubles ($0.5 to $1) each.
The Russian office of the company said parallel imports was part of the reason behind the price hike, and noted the batteries were being produced in China and imported.
Duracell had announced in April that it would be exiting the Russian market and withdrawing from Russia. Management at the company reportedly ordered the termination of all existing contracts, the sale of all inventory, the settlement of all personnel accounts, and the notification of all partners of the impending withdrawal.
In letters to its partners, the company had noted that it was halting deliveries to its partners in Russia, however it added it would honor all of its contracts until its inventories were depleted.