UB wine arm to expand

The UB Group-owned French wine company, Bouvet-Ladubay will invest 10 million euro in its second manufacturing plant in France to double its capacity as it plans to give a major thrust to its exports.

As of now, Bouvet-Ladubay manufactures 4 million bottles per annum, which will go up to 8 million bottles within the next five years.

The company, at present, exports to 35 countries.

Said Juliette Monmousseau, export sales and publicity of Bouvet Ladubay, "Bouvet-Ladubay also expects to sell about half-a-million bottles of its products in India in another five years."

India is witnessing an increase in wine consumption and in volume terms its market size is about 1.2 million cases (of 12 bottles of 750 ml each) and is growing annually between 30 per cent and 35 per cent.

Bouvet Ladubay has already launched its range of premium Loire Valley French wines in India. The 750 ml bottles of wines retail at prices ranging between Rs 1,345 and Rs 2,500, depending on state excise policies.