Polmos (acronym for Polski Monopol Spirytusowy, Polish Spirits Monopoly) was a Polish state-owned monopoly, controlling the Polish market for alcoholic beverages. Founded in the late 1920s, until World War II it was one of the leading vodka producers in Poland. Distilleries of Polmos were relatively modern and efficient in the nearby region at that time so the company exported its products to some European countries.
After the war the company became an absolute monopoly and, like other distilleries, was nationalized by the government of People's Republic of Poland. The newly created monopoly adopted the name POLMOS. After fall of communism in 1989 the monopoly was divided into several independent enterprising entities, each owning one of the distilleries and one or two of the brands of alcoholic drinks. All such established companies have been privatised and none of them remain fully state-owned.
Among the companies descended from Polmos are:
Akwawit-Polmos Wrocław – owner and producer of vodka brands Wratislavia, Krakus, Abstynent, Arktica, Faust, and rectified spirit (95% or 96%)Polmos Poznań – owner and producer of vodka brands Wyborowa, Wyborowa Exquisite, GoldwasserPolmos Zielona Góra – owner and producer of vodka brands Luksusowa, SiwuchaPolmos Starogard Gdański – part of distillery Sobieski SA, owner of the brand Krupnik, producer of vodka brand SobieskiPolmos in Siedlce – owner and producer of vodka brand ChopinPolmos Białystok – owner and producer of 'Absolwent, Żubrówka, and other brandsPolmos Bielsko-Biała – owner and producer of vodka brand Extra Żytnia (formerly known as Żytnia)Polmos Kraków – owner of vodka brand CracoviaPolmos Lublin – owner of vodka brands Żołądkowa Gorzka and LubelskaPolmos Łańcut – owner of vodka brands Biała Dama and PolonaisePolmos Łódź – owner of the brand PrezydentPolmos Toruń – owner of the brand Copernicus, producer of SlivovitzPolmos Sieradz – owner of the brands Jarzębiak and RatafiaPolmos Szczecin – producer of aged vodka Starka and gin PomorskiPolmos Warszawa – producer of rectified spiritPolmos Żyrardów – producer of vodka Belvedere
