Beverage

India's spirits industry braces up cautiously ahead of UK FTA ratification

With tariff cuts under the UK-India FTA, spirit producers expect faster growth, price access, and stiffer competition in premium whisky

AlchoBev expects up to 20% growth in Q3 riding on bullish festive sales

The alcoholic beverage industry is on a high, with nearly double-digit growth in festive season sales, and now expects an upswing of around 20 per cent in the October-December period, driven by the premium spirits category. The industry witnessed a spike in sales across categories, whether it's IMFL or Scotch in the whisky segment, or rum or white spirits such as vodka, white rum, gin and tequila in the almost one-and-a-half-month festive season, which is now in its conclusion. This festive season, the industry has witnessed higher growth in the premium category, as well as in smaller tier II & III markets, alongside the developed markets. We have witnessed a highly encouraging festive season, with strong uptake across our premium and luxury portfolio. The festive months continue to be a key consumption period in India, and this year's performance has reaffirmed the growing consumer preference for premium and thoughtfully crafted spirits, Radico Khaitan Chief Operating Officer ...

Domestic beer industry seeks import relaxation amid aluminium can shortage

The domestic beer industry, which has been facing an acute shortage of aluminium cans and fearing an impact on growth trajectory, has urged the government for a 'short-term regulatory relaxation' in quality control norms to ensure uninterrupted supply from overseas. The beer industry is facing an annual deficit of 12-13 crore units of 500 ml cans, which account for almost 20 per cent of total beer sales in the country, and it may also lead to a shortfall of around Rs 1,300 crore in government revenues, according to the Brewers Association of India (BAI). Aluminium cans were brought under the ambit of mandatory BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification by the government from April 1, 2025, through a quality control order (QCO), which has resulted in short-term supply problems for beer as well as other beverage packaging industry in the country. Key aluminium can suppliers, BALL Beverage Packaging India and Can-Pack India, have already exhausted their domestic capacity at their .

Beverage makers cite mass consumption, want 18% GST slab, no sin tax

The non-alcoholic beverages sector has urged the government to reduce GST on aerated drinks to 18 per cent, which will make these products more affordable, drive investments and generate 1.2 lakh jobs annually by 2030. Currently, aerated drinks attract 28 per cent GST and a sin tax of 12 per cent. The government is proposing to rejig GST to a two-slab structure-- 5 per cent and 18 per cent. In addition, there will be a special rate of 40 per cent to be levied on select few items like ultra-luxury cars and sin goods. Currently, GST is a 4-tier structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. The Indian Beverage Association (IBA) said the rationalisation of GST for the sector will make products more affordable, increase investments in the sector and also generate 1.2 lakh new jobs annually by 2030. The IBA, while appreciating the government for the next-generation GST reforms, said reclassification, GST rationalisation and placing the category in a standard GST rate will unlock the sector's t

Beverage makers' April-June quarter takes a hit due to unseasonal rain

Early monsoon and unseasonal rainfall this year in most parts of the country have impacted the topline of beverage makers in the June quarter. This has not only impacted sales of the cola brands but also traditional milk-based beverage products, such as lassi, shakes, flavoured milks, and buttermilk. Interestingly, the beverage makers had early volume gains in 2026 as summer arrived early. They had stocked inventory and channels in anticipation of a repeat of last year's bumper sales. However, by mid-April, intermittent rainfall started hitting southern and western India, impacting overall which sales from early May. The Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO James Quincey, in the latest investors' call, said the company got a "hit by some early monsoon in India", in the June quarter, which is the important selling season in the country. The company had a good start in the quarter, but early arrival of monsoon impacted it, said Quincey. "In India, after a strong start to the year, vo

Health drives snacking choices for 72% of Indians: Consumer insights study

Makhana emerges as superfood, making up 19% of health snack market

Only 60% nations have standards for food, beverages in schools: Unesco

"Most school meal programmes have education goals, alongside nutrition, health and social protection objectives. However, fewer programmes focus on preventing or mitigating obesity," the report read

Campa Cola to open new bottling plant in Bihar with ₹1,000 cr investment

Campa Cola, the soft drinks brand owned by Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, the FMCG arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, will open a new bottling plant in Bihar. According to reports, Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL)-owned brand will have a new plant on 35 acres of land in the Begusarai district of Bihar, where it will invest around Rs 1,000 crore. Confirming the development, the state government's agency, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) through a post on social media platform 'X' informed that the plot has been allotted to EPIC Agro Product Ltd, a company that produces and distributes Campa Cola. The upcoming facility will integrate both bottling and manufacturing operations. This marks a significant milestone in Campa Cola's aggressive growth strategy, with a sharp focus on expanding its footprint in eastern and northeastern India. The move comes just two months after the launch of a similar plant in Assam. This year in February, RCPL inaugurate

MCKT Beverages launches Nepal's Khukri Rum in India, sets expansion plan

MCKT Beverages aims to sell 20,000 cases of the premium drink by FY26

PepsiCo acquires prebiotic soda brand Poppi in $1.95 billion deal

PepsiCo said Monday it's acquiring the prebiotic soda brand Poppi for USD 1.95 billion. The acquisition gives PepsiCo a fast-growing brand in the popular functional beverage category. More than ever, consumers are looking for convenient and great-tasting options that fit their lifestyles and respond to their growing interest in health and wellness, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said in a statement. PepsiCo said the transaction includes USD 300 million of anticipated cash benefits, bringing the net purchase price to USD 1.65 billion. Allison Ellsworth, the co-founder of Austin, Texas-based Poppi, said the combination with PepsiCo will expand Poppi's reach. We can't wait to begin this next chapter with PepsiCo to bring our soda to more people and I know they will honor what makes Poppi so special while supporting our next phase of growth and innovation, Ellsworth said in a statement. Ellsworth developed Poppi then known as Mother Beverage -- in her kitchen in 2015 becau

Loca Loka plans to enter India by October, targets 1 mn bottles in 3 years

The company is set to launch Añejo tequila in Miami and Las Vegas this May. India will get all three variants

Kandhari Global is open to buying out more bottling plants from HCCB

The company is currently in the process of acquiring HCCB's plant in Northern Gujarat, (Sanand) which is reportedly being bought out for around Rs 2,000 crore

Ready for more opportunities from Coca-Cola: Kandhari Global Beverages

Kandhari Global Beverages is ready for more bottling opportunities from Coca-Cola in India as well as foreign territories, its Managing Director Varinder Pal Singh Kandhari said on Wednesday. Besides, Kandhari Global Beverages, which has recently acquired Coca-Cola's bottling operations in the North Gujarat region, plans to double its turnover in the next 5-6 years from the current Rs 4,500 crore. The Atlanta-headquartered beverage major is divesting assets globally by franchising regional operations to local partners as part of its asset-light business model. "We look forward if there is an opportunity, we will definitely look at it," Kandhari told PTI. Kandhari Global Beverages was one of the three existing bottlers to whom HCCB had transferred bottling operations of the Rajasthan market in the last round in January 2024. It already operates in parts of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. "We have ambitions going beyond the ...

Thums Up, Sprite likely to uncork Coca-Cola's $2 billion brand bottle

Coca-Cola's Thums Up was the first brand from the company's stable to become a billion-dollar brand in 2021, followed closely by Sprite in 2022. Maaza crossed the billion-dollar mark in 2024

Varun Beverages' growth strategy could prove beneficial for investors

The VBL board approved the acquisition of SBC Tanzania for Rs 1,304 crore and SBC Beverages Ghana for Rs 127 crore

Coca-Cola India FY24 results: PAT falls 42% to Rs 420 cr; revenue rises 4%

Beverages major Coca-Cola India's consolidated profit fell 41.82 per cent to Rs 420.29 crore in FY24 while its revenue rose 4.24 per cent to Rs 4,713.38 crore, according to the company's filing to RoC (Registrar of Companies). Its total income, which also includes other income, was up 4.19 per cent to Rs 4,801.84 crore during the fiscal ended March 2024, according to financial data accessed through business intelligence platform Tofler. In FY23, Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd, an unlisted entity, had reported a net profit of Rs 722.44 crore and revenue from operations at Rs 4,521.31 crore. Its expenses on advertising and sales promotion were up 35.47 per cent to Rs 1,520.21 crore during the financial year under review. This was at Rs 1,122.11 crore a year ago. Moreover, royalties paid to its US-based parent The Coca-Cola Company also went up 4.68 per cent to Rs 507.51 crore. The total tax expense of Coca-Cola India in FY24 was down 35.34 per cent to Rs 171.42 crore. This was at Rs 265.14

Indian alcoholic beverages to see up to 10% revenue growth in FY25: ICRA

Alcoholic beverages (alcobev) companies in India are expected to report a revenue growth of 8 to 10 per cent in this financial year supported by a revival in consumption of spirits, according to a report by rating agency ICRA. The growth in the topline will also be helped by the premiumisation trend, it added. Moreover, "revenue increase in FY2025 will additionally be supported by the price hikes granted by a few state governments in the current fiscal," it said. However, operating profit margin (OPM) is expected to remain stable at 12-13 per cent in FY2025 due to decline in packaging material cost, despite increase in grain prices in H1 FY2025. "During Q1 FY2025, the spirits industry reported a 9 per cent year-on-year increase in revenues, supported by 5-7 per cent improvement in realisations, while volumes grew by 2-4 per cent," it said. Even the beer industry witnessed a higher revenue growth of 12 per cent in Q1 FY2025 owing to 3-5 per cent increase in volumes and 7-9 per cent

Diageo names Nik Jhangiani as new CFO as it recovers from profit warning

Diageo shares rose by more than 1.5% in early trading, outperforming the FTSE 100 index

Rural Indians are now spending more on processed food, drinks than cereals

For urban India, the spending on processed food has been more than that on cereals since 2011-12 but the gap has widened in the last 10 years

Coca-Cola records volume growth in India in October-December quarter

In the Asia Pacific market, its unit case volume grew 2 per cent for the quarter, primarily driven by growth in juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverages, and sparkling flavours