Page 4 - Liquor Firms

Viability of beer prices set by Telangana has become far too stressed: BAI

A day after the country's leading brewer United Breweries suspended supply to Telangana, beer industry body BAI on Thursday said the commercial viability of prices set by the state government has become far too stressed. The prices allowed to supplier companies are actually below the cost of goods supplied as these prices are based on the cost of production in 2018-19, said Brewers Association of India (BAI) DG Vinod Giri. On Wednesday, United Breweries Ltd (UBL), which operates with popular beer brands like Kingfisher, Kalyani Black, Heineken, and Amstel Bier, announced to suspend the supply of its beer to Telangana State Beverages Corporation with immediate effect. The decision has been taken due to the non-revision of the basic price of the company's beer from 2019-20 by Telangana State Beverages Corporation Ltd (TSBCL), resulting in huge losses in the state, said United Breweries Ltd (UBL), now controlled by Dutch multinational brewing company Heineken NV. Commenting on the ...

Not aware of any govt document on CCI investigation: Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard responds to reports of CCI raids over alleged retailer collusion to promote whisky brand

Delhi's excise revenue up by 13% in first three quarters of 2024-25

Delhi government's excise revenue from liquor trade saw a jump of around 13 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024-25, officials said on Sunday. The revenue jumped to Rs 6,061 crore from Rs 5,361 crore in the corresponding period in previous fiscal, they said. The sale of liquor bottles on New Year's Eve, however, saw a decline. On December 31, 2024, a total of 23 lakh bottles were sold, as against 24 lakh in 2023. The decline was attributed to December 31 being a Tuesday, when many avoid liquor consumption owing to religious reasons. The department's revenue consisted of Rs 4,233 crore it got in excise duty and Rs 1,828 as Value Added Tax. In comparison, the department in April-December 2023, earned Rs 5,361 crore in excise revenue, including Rs 1,643 crore as VAT. A target of Rs 6,400 crore in revenue was set for the financial year 2024-25. In the 2023-24 fiscal, the total excise duty collected was Rs 5,164 crore.

Domestic liquor brands may seek separate standard for single malt whisky

Homegrown Indian liquor makers are mulling approaching food & beverages regulator FSSAI for a separate standard for the Indian single malt whisky that is rapidly scaling with the ongoing trend of premiumisation and has won several prestigious international awards. This will help maintain the sanctity and reputation of Indian single malt whisky -- now exported to 60 countries -- and Indian producers are discussing the move, according to Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), the industry body of domestic AlcoBev manufacturers. The Indian distillers are also taking steps to get a geographical indication tag for their single malt whisky that will enhance the brand's credibility and standards. While the sale of Indian single malt whisky rising in high double digits in the country -- the world's largest whisky market -- the industry is also facing a challenge to keep a check on the emergence of smaller single malt whisky brands. According to CIABC Director ...

CCI conducts surprise raids on liquor giants Pernod, AB InBev in Hyderabad

Liquor companies and retailers in Telangana have been accused of entering into cartel-like agreements to manipulate prices and market shares

DeVANS to boost Samba beer capacity to 600K HL with Rs 60 crore investment

Jammu-based company DeVANS Modern Breweries also plans to enter the duty-free space with one-litre bottles of its Single Malt brand GianChand exclusively for travel retail

Pernod Ricard internal probe reveals that top India exec violated laws

Enforcement Directorate, in Jan. 2023 accused Pernod Ricard India (PRI) of engaging in money laundering by unlawfully facilitating $24 million in corporate guarantees

Luxury brandy launch pushes Tilak Nagar Industries 4% higher on November 28

The uptick in the Tilak Nagar Industries came after the company announced that it has forayed into the luxury brandy segment with the launch of Monarch Legacy Edition for Rs 6,750 in Maharashtra

US liquor maker Sazerac to introduce more brands of Bourbon whisky in India

American spirits makers Sazerac plans to introduce more brands of bourbon whisky to its priority market India, which is going through premiumisation, a company official said on Wednesday. The Louisiana, US-based privately held American alcoholic beverage company looks at India as an "opportunity market" because it is one of the largest whisky consumption markets, where the trend of premiumisation is picking up led by the growth of the economy and subsequent increase in disposable income. Sazerac Company, which owns a stake in Bengaluru-based liquor maker John Distilleries Ltd, also plans to launch and develop the Bourbon category whisky from Buffalo Trace Distillery, in top Indian metros. It will 'leverage' its relationship with John Distilleries while expanding in the Indian market, which is considered to be complex and over-regulated for the spirits business. "We do expect to continue to invest. India for us, is a priority market. You will see year in and year out, we will contin

Associated Alcohols launches premium Hillfort whiskey starting at Rs 340

Hillfort Whiskey offers a unique tasting experience, beginning with a smoky aroma and evolving into ashy undertones, floral notes, citrus, and tropical fruits

Premium portfolios to serve neat margin gains for liquor companies

Profits, uncorked: A spirited blend of festivals and weddings to pour strong growth in FY25's second half

Piccadily Agro to invest Rs 1,000 cr to expand, open distillery in Scotland

Piccadily Agro, maker of Indri Single malt whisky and Camikara rum, on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 1,000 crore to expand existing facility and open new plants, including a distillery in Scotland, to widen its play in the premium segment. Piccadily Agro Industries Limited (PAIL), which announced to raise Rs 312 crore to fund its growth plans, looks to expand its distillery and malt facilities at Indri, Haryana and set up a new facility at Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh. Piccadily Agro Industries Limited (PAIL) will also open its first international distillery at Portavadie, Scotland, to bolster its premium spirits production, according to a company statement. In September 2024, PAIL raised Rs 262 crore through preferential allotment from marquee investors, while an additional Rs 50 crore was infused by the company's promoters. The remaining funding shall be tied up through a combination of internal accruals and debt, it said. "With this expansion in India, we are set to increase our

John Distilleries expects Rs 2,500 crore revenue in the next 5 years

John Distilleries Ltd, a Bengaluru-based liquor maker, expects around Rs 2,500 crore net revenue in the next five years, led by the expansion of its product portfolio, premiumisation and capacity expansion, said its Chairman Paul P John on Thursday. The owner of popular single malt whiskey Paul John is also planning to set up a green field manufacturing unit in Karnataka to double its production capacity by investing around Rs 600 crore, which will be funded through a mix of debt and cash from internal accruals. John Distilleries Ltd (JDL) has identified a land parcel in Karnataka and expects the proposed green field unit to be operational by 2030, he said. "Now, we have already reached 10,000 litres production capacity per day. But this will suffice for the next four or five years. So, we need to expand. At the pace that we are growing and the focus that we have, we need another 12,000-litre capacity plant somewhere, and we are looking at Karnataka for that," John told PTI in an ..

Tilaknagar Industries Q2 results: Net profit rises 57.2% to Rs 58.2 cr

Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) manufacturer Tilaknagar Industries Ltd has reported a 57.2 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 58.23 crore for the second quarter ended September 2024, supported by cost-optimisation initiatives and marketing strategy. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 37.04 crore a year ago, according to a regulatory filing from Tilaknagar Industries Ltd (TIL). Its revenue from operations rose 9.74 per cent to Rs 823.32 crore in the September quarter. It was Rs 750.18 crore in the year-ago period. "The growth in profitability to superior brand-mix as well as effective cost-optimisation initiatives. With the worst of the inflationary cycle over, the company anticipates further growth in profitability in the upcoming quarters," said TIL in its earnings statement. TIL, which owns brands such as Mansion House Brandy, Courrier Napoleon Brandy, Mansion House Gold Whisky and Blue Lagoon Gin, recorded a 7 per cent rise in its total expenses for th

Why did liquor demand drop for the first time since Covid in Sep quarter?

Whisky, which makes up two-thirds of the spirits segment, experienced a 1 per cent drop in volume, with brandy and rum also falling by 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively

Allied Blenders and Distillers Q2 results: PAT jumps to Rs 47.6 cr

Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABDL) on Tuesday reported over four-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 47.56 crore in the September quarter on strong margin and interest cost savings. It posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 11.34 crore in the July-September period a year ago, according to a regulatory filing from ABDL. ABDL's revenue from operations rose 5.23 per cent to Rs 2,029.10 crore during the quarter under review. It was Rs 1,928.11 crore in the year-ago period. "The robust performance in PAT was led by strong EBITDA growth and interest cost savings as the high-cost debt was repaid by IPO proceedings during the quarter," said ABDL in its earning statement. The total expenses of ABDL increased 3.7 per cent to Rs 1,925.78 crore in the September quarter. Its total income, which includes other income, grew 5.3 per cent to Rs 2,031.11 crore. "Overall, we delivered 8.3 mn cases in Q2 FY25, a growth of 14.8 per cent vs 7.3 mn cases in Q1 FY25 and in-line with 8.3 mn

Radico Khaitan Q2FY25 results: Net profit rises 24.4% to Rs 80 cr

Liquor maker Radico Khaitan on Thursday reported a 24.41 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 80.66 crore for the second quarter ended September 2024, led by growth from its premium segment. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 64.83 crore a year ago, according to a BSE filing from Radico Khaitan. Its revenue from operations rose 9.45 per cent to Rs 3,906.58 crore during the quarter under review. It was Rs 3,569.06 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Radico Khaitan's total expenses increased 8.93 per cent to Rs 3,797.92 crore in the September quarter. "Gross Margin was impacted y-o-y basis due to significant foodgrain inflation offset by premiumisation in the IMFL business. Gross margin improved 258 bps on q-o-q basis due to the ongoing premiumisation, and a stable raw material and packaging material scenario," said Radico Khaitan in its earning statement. The total income, which includes other income in the September quarter

Optimistic Capital launches India's first microbrewery-focused fund

India's microbrewery sector is expected to triple by 2030, with over 1,000 microbreweries projected, compared to around 300 in 2024

Allied Blenders, Ranveer Singh to start new venture in premium segment

Liquor maker Allied Blenders and Distillers has partnered with Bollywood star Ranveer Singh to start a new business venture to offer a portfolio of premium brands. The board of Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABDL) has approved the formation of the new venture on Wednesday, said a statement from the company. "The creation of this would mark a strategic move for ABDL, allowing the new venture to focus on the exciting world of luxury spirits, while retaining the existing core brands in ABDL itself," said a joint statement With Indians drinking better and trending to luxury products, this business is set to make a significant impact. "The entity will launch its own brands, partner with promising Indian start-ups, work with major international brands, and use the strong ABDL sales and manufacturing networks with clear go-to-market strategies," it said. ABDL Managing Director Alok Gupta said: "This new venture, with the major impact personality like Ranveer Singh, represents our ..

Spurious liquor claims 231 lives in Odisha over past 27 yrs, assembly told

As many as 231 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Odisha in 27 years between 1992 and 2019, Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed the assembly on Saturday. In a written reply to a question of Congress MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka, the minister said the highest number of 134 people died after consuming hooch in Cuttack district in 1992. He said 41 people of Tukulipada in the then Bhubaneswar & Cuttack district lost their lives after drinking such liquor in 2012. The minister said spurious liquor also claimed 20 lives in Puri in 2001, 19 in Ganjam district in 2006, ten (three in Khurda & seven in Bolangir) in 2009 and seven in Bhadrak district in 2019. Harichandan said that the government, at present, doesn't have any proposal to provide assistance and rehabilitation to people falling ill due to the consumption of hooch and those addicted to liquor. A total of 433 country liquor (Mahua) shops are operating in Odisha and the government has collected Rs 227 crore ..