McDowell's No.1 records $3.8 bn-worth sales in 2012-13

Kolkata, April 18 (IANS) Vijay Mallya's United Spirits Ltd (USL) Thursday said its leading spirits brand McDowell's No.1 has clocked retail sales worth $3.8 billion in 2012-13.

During the year, the liquor maker sold nearly half a billion 750 ml bottles of its whisky, rum and brandy franchise under its flagship brand.

According to a company release here, the brand is now the largest alcoholic beverage franchise in India by volume and value.

"Half a billion standard (750 ml each) bottles of McDowell's No.1 portfolio, of which the whisky forms the most significant part, is an endorsement of our early recognition of the prestige and premium opportunity in India," said UB group chairman Mallya.

USL president and managing director Ashok Capoor claimed that never before had any brand achieved a double digit growth of 12 percent on a significant volume base of 44 million cases in the previous year in a "highly regulated market with sales and marketing challenges in every state".

"The company has created an unprecedented landmark yet again in the history of alcoholic beverage industry in the world," he added.