United Breweries Limited (UBL) is engaged in the business of manufacture and sale of beer and non-alcoholic beverages. United Breweries is India's largest producer of beer. United Breweries now has greater than a 40% share of the Indian brewing market with 79 distilleries and bottling units around the world. The company operates through two primary business segments:
* Beer segment: Includes the manufacture, purchase, and sale of beer, including licensing of brands.
* Non-alcoholic beverages segment: Includes the manufacture, purchase, and sale of non-alcoholic beverages.
United Breweries Holdings Limited (UBHL), also called UB Group, is the Indian subsidiary of Heineken N.V. It is headquartered in UB City, Bangalore, Karnataka. The company's rich history dates back to 1915 when Castle Breweries (leading the way since 1857) teamed up with other breweries, forming United Breweries.
The Company markets its products under the flagship brands Kingfisher and Heineken. Some of the most popular brands in its portfolio include Kingfisher Premium, Kingfisher Ultra, Kingfisher Strong, Kingfisher Ultra Max, UB Export Lager, London Pilsner, etc. A name synonymous with beer in India, Kingfisher stands for excitement, youth, and camaraderie. This largest-selling beer in India commands a significant market share in the country, with every alternate bottle of beer sold in India being a Kingfisher brand.
The company's comprehensive brand portfolio includes:
* The renowned Heineken brand is complemented by Heineken Silver.
* The iconic Kingfisher family includes Kingfisher Premium, Kingfisher Strong, Kingfisher Ultra, Kingfisher Ultra Max, Kingfisher Ultra Witbier, Kingfisher Storm, and Kingfisher Blue.
* Amstel Bier stands out as a premium addition.
* Additional brands in the portfolio include The Bullet series (comprising Bullet and Bullet Super Strong), while Cannon 10000 brings its unique flavor. Zingaro adds to the collection of choices alongside Kalyani Black Label and UB Export (which includes UB Export and UB Export Strong). London Pilsner offers its classic taste, along with London Pilsner Strong.
In June 2021, Heineken N.V. bought out Mallya's 15% stake in United Breweries Limited for ₹5,825 Crore (US$730 million) from the Debt Recovery Tribunal. With this, Heineken's stake in the company increased to 61.5%, taking control of United Breweries. This strategic partnership has strengthened UBL's position in the Indian market while providing access to international expertise and a global brand portfolio.
UBL built its position as the undisputed market leader in India with a strong network of breweries across the country and a fantastic portfolio led by its iconic Kingfisher brand family, complemented more recently by a strong HEINEKEN international brand portfolio. India offers an exciting long-term growth opportunity as per capita beer consumption is low at 2 liters per annum. Its growing population of nearly 1.4 billion people includes a strong emerging middle class, enabling further premiumization.
Based on the latest financial results for the year ended March 2025:
* Net profit rose 7.72% to ₹441.69 Crore in the year ended March 2025, as against ₹410.03 Crore during the previous year ended March 2024.
* Sales rose 9.76% to ₹8,915.09 Crore in the year ended March 2025, as against ₹8,122.68 Crore during the previous year ended March 2024.
* Revenue: ₹8,915.09 Crore (9.76% YoY growth)
* Net Profit: ₹441.69 Crore (7.72% YoY growth)
* Market Cap: As of June 6, 2025, 03:54 PM, the market cap of United Breweries Ltd stood at ₹54,710.68 Crore.
For the quarter ended March 2025:
* Revenue from operations (excluding excise duty) rose 8.89% YoY to ₹2,322.98 Crore.
* Profit before tax (PBT) grew 20.33% to ₹132.07 Crore in Q4 FY25, compared with ₹109.76 Crore posted in the same quarter the previous year.
* Net profit of United Breweries rose 20.16% to ₹97.57 Crore in Q4 FY25, as against ₹81.20 Crore during the previous quarter ended March 2024.
The company has been actively expanding its operational footprint. United Breweries Ltd will close its Mangalore brewery by June 30, 2025, focusing on expanding its Nanjangud facility to enhance supply chain efficiency. The closure is not expected to impact business performance in Karnataka. United Breweries has entered a leasing agreement with Ilios Breweries to enhance its manufacturing capacity in Andhra Pradesh, aiming to meet rising demand for Kingfisher beer.
In terms of product innovation, United Breweries launches premium beer Amstel Grande in Karnataka from June 30, 2025, priced competitively. The company continues to focus on premiumization, with the premium segment growing by 24% in the quarter. Within the segment, the company saw strong growth for Kingfisher Ultra & Kingfisher Ultra Max and Heineken, and it continues to drive premium volume growth.
During the quarter, gross profit margin improved by 37 bps to 42.1% in Q4 FY25. Investments in capex during the quarter were ₹254 Crore, primarily in supply chain initiatives to cater for future growth. The company's commitment to growth is evident in its strategic investments and expansion plans.
"We remain committed and optimistic to unlock growth in the category & shape the future of beer in India driven by increasing disposable income, favorable demographics & premiumization," stated the firm in an exchange filing.
Promoter holding in United Breweries Ltd has remained stable at 70.83% as of March 2025 (unchanged from June 2024). Meanwhile, the board has recommended a dividend of ₹10 per equity share of face value of Re. 1 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, subject to approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
The company's strong fundamentals, established market position, and strategic partnership with Heineken position it well for continued growth in India's expanding beer market. With a comprehensive brand portfolio ranging from premium to value segments and a robust distribution network, United Breweries Limited remains a dominant force in the Indian alcoholic beverages industry.
