Budweiser maker-AB InBev banned in National Capital for 3 yrs over tax evasion

SLAB Ventures Netherlands and AB InBev India has launched D’yavol Inception, a blended malt Scotch whisky tailored for connoisseurs of authentic luxury and refined living.

Following the resounding success of D'yavol Single Estate Vodka and D'yavol X, the exclusive limited-edition luxury streetwear line, the first Scotch whisky expression from D'yavol – aptly named Inception – embodies excellence and sophistication.

"We are thrilled to present D’yavol Inception as we continue our journey alongside our esteemed partners at AB InBev India. We took upon ourselves the challenge of combining exceptional single malts from different regions in a blend that brings out the best of each component malt. Created by our Master Blender, Vic Cameron, Inception is indeed the beginning of something very special, and we are confident it will become an instant classic,” said Bunty Singh, Co-Founder of SLAB.

D’yavol Inception is a peerless, non-chill filtered blended malt Scotch whisky that perfectly balances gentle peat and indulgent sherry notes and is designed for discerning aficionados with a keen eye for detail. This extraordinary composition is meticulously crafted in the heart of Scotland, blending eight distinct single malts from the illustrious regions of the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, and Islands. Created in small batches, the launch edition is presented in a highly distinctive luxury packaging adorned in timeless black and gold aesthetics, making this contemporary masterpiece a crowning jewel in any discerning connoisseur's private bar collection.

“We are pleased to expand our continued engagement with SLAB Ventures, unveiling this luxury offering representing our unrelenting pursuit of innovation and connection with discerning consumers. The market for Scotch Whiskies in India is growing as demand for luxury and imported spirits increases. With the launch of INCEPTION, we target whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs seeking a sophisticated drinking experience,” added Kartikeya Sharma, President - India AB InBev.

D’yavol Inception is currently available in Maharashtra for ₹9800, Goa for ₹9000 and Karnataka for ₹9500 and will soon be available in Delhi, West Bengal, UP, Haryana & Telangana.

SLAB was founded by Aryan Khan, Bunty Singh and Leti Blagoeva to provide a springboard for their idea of bringing a luxury lifestyle collective to the world. Based in The Netherlands, the company aims to establish strategic partnerships with leading industry outfits worldwide.

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) and AB InBev has announced the opening of Seven Rivers, their second brewpub in Goa.

This first-of-its-kind brewpub with an on-site microbrewery is located at Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, Goa, India’s most popular holiday destination.

“IHCL for over a century has pioneered new cuisines and food and beverage concepts. The opening of the Seven Rivers brewpub in Goa is in line with our vision of bringing differentiated experiences for our guests. Furthering our partnership with AB InBev, over the next five years, the concept will scale up to 15 new destinations across the country,” shared Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL.

IHCL and AB InBev entered into a partnership to launch a premium chain of microbreweries and launched the first brewpub in 2020 in Taj MG Road, Bangalore.

“We are pleased to unveil our second Seven Rivers brewpub through our partnership with IHCL. The Seven Rivers brewpub is a testament to the growing consumer demand for artisanal beers, and we are confident that beer as a category is poised for growth in India,” added Kartikeya Sharma, President – India & Southeast Asia, AB InBev.

Housed in a Portuguese villa, the sprawling beer garden, the first in Goa, features large outdoor spaces with an indoor tasting table. The brewpub will offer beer inspired by the quintessential flavours of the region, as well as those made from the finest locally sourced ingredients and crafted by experienced international and Indian brewmasters. Highlights include the Poi lager, which uses local Goan bread Poi as part of the mash bill, and the Kokum Gose, which uses the tangy local Kokum from the farms of Goa. The usual suspects - Witbier, Hefeweizen and Kolsch- also join the ranks.

The brewpub will offer a menu with a mix of local Goan flavours and global favourites paired with craft brews.

“With Goa evolving as India’s leading food and drink destination, the all-new brewpub will add to city’s culinary repertoire. We look forward to bringing the one of its kind - beer garden experience to Goa,” pointed Vincent Ramos, Senior Vice President, Goa, IHCL.

Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD) Ltd., one of India’s largest domestic Spirits company, has launched two new whiskies with a twist Srishti Premium Whisky and Sterling Reserve B7 Whisky Cola Mix.

Srishti Premium Whisky is a blend of rare Scotch Malts paired with select Indian grain spirits and its unique expression is rounded off with curcumin. Sterling Reserve B7 Whisky Cola Mix is the award-winning whisky blend, infused with cola to add a zing to every drinking occasion. The whisky cola mix retains the colour of whisky in the bottle, in a glass with water, soda or when consumed as a shot.

“At ABD, we are living our core value of ‘Think Differently’. Srishti and Sterling Reserve B7 Whisky Cola are testaments to the disruptive innovation mindset that we nurture and thrive on. Both products are rooted in consumer insight and are the first of their kind in the Indian market,” shared Shekhar Ramamurthy, Executive Deputy Chairman, ABD.

Talking about the launch, Bikram Basu - Chief Strategy, Marketing, Business Development Officer, said “Srishti is truly disruptive. From its infusion with curcumin, naming of the product, to its launch in the Metaverse today before its market launch. Srishti and has been in the making for a few years and gives consumers a great whisky with an interesting natural ingredient. Sterling Reserve B7 Whisky Cola is aimed at young adults who prefer whisky with a flavour, and cola is a global winner”.

In continuing with its trend of offering unique experiences to consumers, Srishti Premium Blended Whisky has been first launched in the Metaverse at the ‘ABD MetaBar’ https://abdmetabar.com/ and will be subsequently launched in key markets soon. Sterling Reserve B7 Whisky Cola has been recently launched in Assam and will extend nationally this season. Both the brands are available in three pack sizes i.e., 750 ml, 350 ml and 180 ml.

Anheuser Busch InBev India (AB InBev) today announced the launch of Budweiser Beats– marking its debut in the non-alcoholic energy drink category.

The launch of Budweiser Beats reinstates the company’s commitment to offer more choice to consumers across the country.

Budweiser Beats is now available on India’s Amazon, Grofers, Big Basket, Swiggy Instamart, leading modern retail and department stores across the country at Rs.90 for a 250 ml can.

“We are delighted to introduce Budweiser Beats in India, marking our entry in the energy drink category. Budweiser continues to be one of the fastest-growing premium brands in the country, and we are thrilled to introduce the first energy drink from Budweiser globally in India,” said Kartikeya Sharma, President – India & South East Asia, AB InBev.

Produced using world-class quality standards and processes, Budweiser Beats strives to build on AB InBev’s promise of delivering the highest quality non-alcoholic products to consumers.

Budweiser Beats contains natural caffeine and B-vitamins, formulated to offer consumers a superior taste and drinking experience.

Domestic spirits company Allied Blenders & Distillers Private Limitet has appointed Shekhar Ramamurthy as the Executive Deputy Chairman of the company with effect from the 1^st of July 2021.

He replaces Nick Blasquez, who has left ABD Private Limited to pursue other professional interests.

Kishore Chhabria, Chairman has expressed his gratitude to Nick Blasquez for his contributions and the transformation journey that he had guided during his tenure.

Shekhar Ramamurthy, has spent over 3 decades with the UB Group in various leadership roles, the last of which was as the Managing Director of United Breweries Limited.

He is well recognised within the alcobev industry for his leadership skills, ability to identify opportunities and drive growth and value. As the country and the industry unlocks from the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, ABD is poised to continue its growth through building successful brands, winning with consumers and creating value for all stakeholders. Shekhar Ramamurthy will spearhead this journey.

Allied Blenders and Distillers Private Limited is a Kishore R. Chhabria promoted company that owns brand like Officers Choice Whisky which is one of the largest selling whiskies in the World and Sterling Reserve Whisky which is one of the fastest growing brands in the country.

Belgium-based AB InBev has appointed Vineet Sharma as vice president - marketing and new business development for South Asia.

Sharma joined AB InBev, the makers of Budweiser beer in 2016, was the trade marketing director for the same region.

In his new role, he will be responsible for accelerating growth of the world’s biggest brewer’s existing portfolio of global brands. In addition to his new responsibilities, Sharma will continue to head the company’s trade marketing initiatives.

Also Read: Bengaluru to get a taste of AB InBev's local wheat beers

“Vineet’s strategic vision has been instrumental in shaping the marketing strategy for Budweiser and our game plan for consumer and customer-focused initiatives in the trade. He will play a critical role in revolutionizing our marketing strategies, innovations and engagement with consumers while finding whitespace opportunities to lead AB InBev to continued success,” shared Kartikeya Sharma, president – India & South East Asia, AB InBev.

Sharma has a decade’s experience in global business management and has worked with multiple FMCG companies like; ITC Limited, Dabur International Limited and Unilever in South East Asia, India, Middle East and North Africa.

He holds an MBA degree in marketing and strategy from XLRI Jamshedpur.

May Interest: World’s leading brewer AB InBev enters non-alcohol beer segment in India

“I am thrilled to embark on this new journey to accelerate AB InBev’s business transformation agenda in South Asia. I am excited to work closely with our teams, business associates and partners to lead the charge through a diverse portfolio of global brands, and further build AB InBev’s leadership position in India,” added Sharma.`

Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev), while sells Budweiser and Corona, has introduced its local wheat beers, Veere and Machaa, in Bengaluru.

In October last year, the world’s biggest brewer set up an Indian unit, 7 Rivers Brewing Co, to launch the two wheat beer variants in Mumbai and Pune.

Kartikeya Sharma, President (South Asia) for AB InBev, said, “We are constantly looking at ways to enhance our existing portfolio of beers and the launch of Veere and Machaa is yet another step in that direction. We are delighted with the response from our consumers in Mumbai and Pune. We see a growing trend of specialty wheat beers across the top urban centers in the country.”

Wheat beer

These beers have a larger proportion of wheat malt than malted barley. In India, the number of bars that increasingly stock Belgian Witbier and German Hefeweizen-style wheat beer is on the rise, helped by surging consumer demand.

AB Inbev’s craft-style beer is a locally made Belgian wheat beer made using wheat sourced from various parts of Punjab and Haryana. Veere has notes of orange and coriander flavors, while Machaa is a tropical beer with flavors of banana and cloves sourced from Tamil Nadu.

In December last year, United Breweries (UB) also ventured into the fast-growing craft beer segment with the introduction of Kingfisher Ultra Witbier.

Indian Beer Market

As per the report, India Beer Market Overview, 2018-2023, The Indian Alcoholic beverages market observed the highest market share of Whisky which is followed by brandy & beer. Indian Beer market has a market share of 17%, being third in the Indian alcohol beverages market.

The rise in disposable income of the Indian population has somewhere led the consumers to shift from standard beers to premium and craft beers. The population is turning more brand conscious, offering numerous business opportunities to entrepreneurs.

The beer consumption in India, in volume terms, is less than 1.5% of global beer volumes, while spirits consumption is as much as 12%. Also, the country’s per capita beer consumption at around 2 litres per annum remains materially below other markets.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of Budweiser, Corona, and Hoegaarden, and the Tata-owned Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) have partnered to launch micro-breweries inside Taj hotel properties in India.

Both companies will together invest Rs 150 crore to introduce 15 microbreweries in key Taj properties over the next five years. As part of this partnership, Ab Inbev will handle the backend like brewing and the beer recipes, while Taj will be running the outlets.

Ben Verhaert, President, South Asia, AB InBev, said, “We will leverage our collective strength to shape the beer category in India. While Taj will bring hospitality excellence and beautiful locations, we have a vast portfolio of craft brands globally and together, that can elevate the country's brew pub experience.”

“The idea is to sell a local product portfolio and it is a fairly large investment. We will spend Rs 150 crore in the first five years,” Verhaert further added.

Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, stated, “This partnership, exclusive to IHCL will be a first of its kind in the hospitality industry in India. With its diverse collection of over 500 beer brands, AB InBev will be involved in setting up on-site microbreweries at some of our iconic hotels; the first of which will be at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru, followed by Goa, Mumbai and Hyderabad.”

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Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has secured about $5 billion in a Hong Kong IPO of the brewer's Asia-Pacific unit after pricing it at the bottom of an indicative range.

The IPO of the Asia-Pacific unit of AB InBev, the world's largest brewer, is the second-biggest globally so far this year.

In July, the brewing giant tried to raise up to $9.8 billion through an initial public offering (IPO) of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Ltd.

AB InBev owns about 50 beer brands, including Stella Artois, Becks and Corona. Asia is an important growth market for the company, whose market share has shrunk in the US, where it owns key brands like Bud Light and Budweiser.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s leading brewer, has introduced its first non-alcohol beer, Budweiser 0.0, in India. With this, the company has forayed into the non-alcohol beer segment in the country.

The launch is in line with AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals to ensure that low and no-alcohol beer make up at least 20% of the company's global beer volume by 2025.

Ben Verhaert, President-South Asia at AB InBev, said, “Budweiser is one of the fastest-growing brands in the country and we are thrilled to add Budweiser 0.0 to our existing portfolio of brands here in India. While the market for non-alcohol beers is still nascent in India, as a leading brewer we see a great opportunity to grow this segment.”

“The launch is in line with our Global Smart Drinking Goals to ensure that low and no alcohol beer make up at least 20% of our global beer volume by 2025. Beer is a drink of moderation and our objective is to offer our consumers various choices to enjoy beer freely and responsibly,” he further stated.

Budweiser 0.0 will be priced at Rs 80 and Rs 90 for a 330ml Can and a 330 ml bottle, respectively.

Kartikeya Sharma, Vice President Marketing - South Asia, AB InBev, added, “We are deeply committed to making our patrons feel as included as possible by offering them avenues to enjoy the signature taste of the iconic Budweiser freely and responsibly. We are mindful of the growing demand for conscious choices and Budweiser 0.0, brewed with quality ingredients like all our beers globally, offers a great alternative. We are bullish on the future of this industry and look forward to witness what is in store for us.”

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer, aims to launch two non-alcoholic beers in India. This move in line with the brand’s global push to provide more low- to non-alcoholic beverages to consumers all over the world.

India’s second largest beer company will be introducing the two products, namely Budweiser 0.0 and Hoegaarden 0.0, in the next three months.

Ben Verhaert, Business Unit President, South Asia, AB InBev, said, "For now, the products will be imported into India. Beer is a drink of moderation and as a beer company we need to be able to offer choices to consumers."

AB InBev sells brands like Budweiser, Corona, Knockout, and Beck’s Ice.

Verhaert stated, "The new launches are for those who don’t want to drink alcohol but want to socialize and that’s a way for them to be included in the beer category. However, the market for such drinks is still very small in India."

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has raided the offices of India's United Breweries, Denmark's Carlsberg and the world's largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) as part of an investigation of price-fixing allegations.

Search and seizure operations were conducted by the anti-trust watchdog at the offices of three top beer companies in at least two Indian cities.

CCI has been conducting an antitrust investigation of the three companies for the past year. The government said that the raids found email exchanges which showed that the companies were fixing prices. 

A spokesman for AB InBev in India said, "It would not be appropriate for us to comment at this time."

"We take antitrust compliance very seriously. Integrity and ethics are part of our core values, embodied in our company culture. Our Code of Business Conduct makes clear that our employees must understand and comply with all applicable competition laws," the spokesman added.

Heineken, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Carlsberg are collectively introducing about a dozen new beer brands in India to slake the thirst of its summer-singed consumers.

For the world’s top three brewers, which together control about 90 per cent of India’s beer market, new products could be the recipe for fending off an unhealthy cocktail of sales bans, shrinking store networks, and stagnant demand in a warm, tropical country with promising demographics and increasing affluence.

India’s beer sales fell 2 per cent in the year to March 2017, but companies expect the segment to expand 5-7 per cent in the current fiscal, driven by premium products.

Skekhar Ramamurthy, Managing Director, United Breweries (UB), said, "We need to strengthen our portfolio because consumers want to choose, and we want to be a part of their choice. In the next six months, we will come up with two strong beer brands in the premium segment, and an interesting portfolio of imported brands in the next six weeks."

He added, "Then some more are being developed in India in the premium segment to further strengthen our market leadership. Kingfisher will continue to be our lead brand."

AB InBev, the maker of Budweiser and Fosters, said consumer sentiment continues to stay positive and its portfolio expansion will help re-stimulate growth.

Kartikeya Sharma, Marketing Director, AB InBev, India and South-East Asia, said, "The trend of consumers trading up has never been stronger in the country and the premium segment has been unaffected by the slowdown."

Apart from mainstream beer brands, experts believe the market could see a slew of new launches in the craft beer segment, an expanding niche.

Rahul Singh, who owns 40 beer cafes across 12 cities, said, "We expect at least 20 new beers to be launched in the fiscal, as there is interest from Canada, New Zealand, Lithuania, and even Iceland."

Anheuser-Busch InBev, Belgian-Brazilian brewer announced the final terms of its $107-billion takeover of SABMiller, its British-South African rival. The coming together of the two brewing majors will make a "truly global beer company".

AB InBev, the world's largest brewer, gets access to emerging markets through the deal. SABMiller, the world's second-largest beer company, gets 35 per cent of its revenues from Latin America and 34 per cent from Africa, respectively.

In India, SABMiller, with brands such as Haywards 5000 and Knockout is ranked number two in the pecking order of beer companies, after Heineken-backed United Breweries.

According to analysts, the combined entity of SABMiller and AB InBev could put up a strong fight against competitors such as UB and Carlsberg. The latter, Danish major, who entered India in 2007, has grown quickly on the back of a portfolio of strong beer brands such as Palone 8, Tuborg Strong and Carlsberg Elephant.

"Our Indian business year-to-date grew 41 per cent organically in a market growing by an estimated three per cent. The business also delivered significant earnings improvement and for the first time, achieved positive earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) contribution, driven by a combination of volume growth and tight cost control. Tuborg grew 47 per cent and our total market share was around 15 per cent, the highest level ever. In Q3, Tuborg maintained its position from Q2 as the second largest brand in India", said Cees’t Hart, president and chief executive officer of Carlsberg. 

According to industry sources, Carlsberg is now said to be eyeing 20 per cent market share, led by its beer brands that straddle the price pyramid. UB, in contrast, has the ubiquitous Kingfisher, a strong trademark in the Indian beer market.

This year, AB InBev, particularly announced it was going solo by exiting its joint venture with Delhi-based Ravi Jaipuria. The world's largest brewer, maker of Budweiser and Corona beer, said it would bring more of its international brands to India after the split.

InBev is also importing its premium brands Stella Artois and Hoegaarden and is bottling Budweiser beer in India from its two plants in Maharashtra and Telangana.

The world's biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev has reported a good result ahead of deadline to finalise its blockbuster offer for London-based rival SABMiller.

AB InBev, the giant behind top lager brands like Budweiser and Stella Artois, said operating profit rose by 9.6 per cent in the third quarter to $4.4 billion (four billion euros), reported AFP.

The strong performance beat analyst expectations and was driven by strong sales of its premium brands in US, Mexico, China and the UK, said analysis Bloomberg news service.

"We are particularly pleased with the performance of our Global Brands which delivered double digit volume and revenue growth," the company said in a statement.

The push for the blockbuster tie-up with SABMiller is being fuelled by fears of declining beer sales in key markets as US and European drinkers abandon traditional brands for more local options.

But the company's premium brands had a bumper quarter. Sold volumes of AB InBev's three global brands grew by 11.5 per cent in the quarter, with Budweiser up 11.5 per cent, Corona up 11.1 per cent and Stella Artois up 12.9 per cent.

Based the solid quarter, the company raised that its forecast for the whole year, saying that sales would now grow above inflation in 2015.

AB InBev on Wednesday said it had agreed with SABMiller to extend its massive buyout offer by a week to allow for further discussions. The results statement made no significant update on the state of those talks.