Latvias Balzams is the largest alcoholic beverage producer in the Baltic states headquartered in Riga. As of 2006, it had a market share of about 50% in Latvia. The company has a long history as the beginning of it can be considered 1900 when Riga State Spirits Warehouse started operation as it later changed its name to Latvijas balzams in 1970 and eventually became a public joint stock company in 1997.