Liquor Industry

Why the government must differentiate between liquor and milder forms

India needs to follow EU on Alcobev taxation to meet WHO target of reducing alcohol consumption

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

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

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 ..

At 38.7 mn bottles, pre-Diwali liquor sales set new high in Delhi

Liquor sales in the national capital in the fortnight leading to Diwali set a record with over 3.87 crore bottles sold, mopping up a revenue of Rs 447.62 crore for the excise department of Delhi government, officials said on Saturday. From October 15 to October 30, a whopping 3.87 crore bottles were sold from the liquor stores run by four corporations of Delhi government, including 2.98 crore bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 89.48 lakh beer bottles, official figures showed. Diwali celebrated on October 31 was a 'dry day', meaning all liquor stores were closed across the city on that day. On Diwali eve on October 30, a total of 33.80 lakh bottles were sold, yielding a revenue of Rs 61.56 crore, according to the data. As compared to last year, 1.18 crore more bottles were sold in the fortnight leading to Diwali this year, from 2.69 crore in 2023 to 3.87 crore this time. Emerging from the shadows of the disruptions caused due to the withdrawal of the 2021-22 liquor ..

Hong Kong cuts liquor tax to boost nightlife and attract tourists

Hong Kong's leader announced a cut to liquor tax Wednesday as the Asian financial hub hopes to revive its reputation as a travel destination with a vibrant nightlife and dining scene. After fulfilling Beijing's long-standing imperative to enact a homegrown national security law, Chief Executive John Lee now faces challenges with economic competitiveness against regional rivals like Singapore, Japan, and mainland Chinese metropolises. Changes in residents' lifestyles and a wave of middle-class emigration during the COVID-19 pandemic have dampened local demand. Many residents now prefer to spend their weekends in mainland China, attracted by its lower prices and a wider variety of entertainment options. Visitors from the mainland are also spending less in the city than before. Vacant shops are commonly seen in the city's most popular shopping districts, and revenue at the city's bars were down about 28% in the first half of 2024 from the same period in 2019, preliminary official data

Delhi govt begins trial of 'e-Abkari' to replace excise information system

The Delhi government on Thursday started trial run of an NIC-developed e-Abkari portal to replace the existing excise supply chain information management system platform to handle retail liquor business, officials said. During the trial period, the e-Abkari portal will be used by 10 liquor vends operated by each of four government corporations as well as over 30 excise licensed hotels, clubs and restaurants, said a source in the Excise department. The portal will be used for placing stock orders, generate transit permits and complete other formalities online by the selected licensees, he said. The excise supply chain information management system (ESCIMS) portal developed by a private IT firm for the Excise department of Delhi government and being operated since 2013 will be replaced once the e-Abkari website is fully ready after the trial run, he said. The officials said the Excise department teams were preparing for the adoption of e-Abkari portal developed by the National ...

Radico Khaitan expects 20% growth as Indians splurge on expensive liquor

Radico Khaitan reported 14.3 per cent sales volume growth for the June quarter on Wednesday in its high-end category, which makes up roughly half its revenue

Radico Khaitan Q1FY25 results: Net profit up 13.4% to Rs 77.38 cr

Liquor maker Radico Khaitan Ltd on Wednesday reported a 13.36 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 77.38 crore for the first quarter ended June 2024. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 68.26 crore in the April-June quarter a year ago, according to a BSE filing from Radico Khaitan. Its revenue from operations was up 9.12 per cent to Rs 4,265.62 crore during the quarter under review. It was Rs 3,908.94 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Radico Khaitan's total expenses increased 8.93 per cent to Rs 4,167.92 crore in the June quarter. The total income of Radico Khaitan in the June quarter was at Rs 4,269.30 crore, up 9.18 per cent. In the June quarter, its total IMFL volume (Indian-made foreign liquor) decreased by 4 per cent whereas the Prestige & Above category volume grew14.3 per cent," said an earning presentation by makers of Rampur single malt, Magic Moments Vodka and Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin. While Prestige & ..

Diageo India's CEO summoned by Delhi city police in liquor payments case

A spokesperson for Diageo India confirmed receiving the Delhi police notice and said the company would fully cooperate and was "in the process of providing the information sought"

Delhi officials reject Pernod liquor licence appeal, cite investigations

The rejection adds to Pernod's India woes, with the French drinks group facing two antitrust cases in India while it also contests a tax demand for nearly $250 million

Raise a toast: State govts may allow home delivery of your favourite drink

State authorities are reportedly seeking feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of online liquor delivery from e-commerce platforms and spirits manufacturers

Punjab limits retailers to 1,000 cases of IMFL monthly, manufacturers panic

Punjab's Indian Made Foreign Liquor market typically moves around one million cases, retailers can now only purchase 1,000 cases per month

Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: 111 persons undergoing treatment in hospitals

At Puducherry 11 persons, in Salem district 30 persons, and in Villupuram district 4 persons are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals

Gurugram liquor shop on Golf Course road auctioned for whopping Rs 50 crore

The new Haryana excise policy 2024-2025, enforced on Wednesday, has also resulted in a 20 per cent hike in liquor prices in Gurugram

Haryana's new excise policy spurs 20% hike in liquor prices in Gurugram

Haryana government has successfully auctioned 162 excise zones in Gurugram, garnering Rs 1,756 crore

Allied Blenders Ltd gets Sebi's approval to float Rs 1,500-crore IPO

Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd, the maker of Officer's Choice Whisky, has received Sebi's go-ahead to raise Rs 1,500 crore through an Initial Public Offering (IPO), an update with the markets regulator showed on Tuesday. The initial share sale comprises fresh issuance of equity shares worth Rs 1,000 crore and an Offer-for-Sale (OFS) of shares to the tune of Rs 500 crore by promoters, according to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP). As a part of the OFS, Bina Kishore Chhabria, Resham Chhabria Jeetendra Hemdev and Neesha Kishore Chhabria will sell shares. Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd, which filed preliminary IPO papers with Sebi in January, obtained its observations on May 10, the update showed. In Sebi's parlance, obtaining observations means its go-ahead to float the public issue. As per the draft papers, proceeds from the fresh issue worth Rs 720 crore will be used for the payment of debt, besides, a portion will be used for general corporate purposes. The total

MCC, and restrictions force drinkers to opt for local liquor brands

With state governments tightening their grip over liquor and Lok Sabha election restrictions creating supply chain disruptions, local brands are flooding the market