• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Rs 20-25 cr to be invested on the winery

Hyderabad , July 31

The UB Group Spirits Division plans to set up new units in Andhra Pradesh to make wine and liquor from `grain spirit'. It has already applied for the necessary license from the State Government.

The winery, the location of which is yet to be decided, would see an investment of Rs 20-25 crore. In the grain-based spirits, the company is planning to launch `Royal Mist', a deluxe whisky soon, along with firming up plans for investments.

Giving these details, Mr N. R. Rajasekhar, Chief Operating Officer, of the Company's Regional Profit Centre (RPC), Andhra Pradesh, said the company garnered 45 per cent of the entire Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) market in Andhra Pradesh last year with a turnover of Rs 150 crore.

The UB Group has Golconda Ruby and Bosca wines. It had a winery, consequent to the acquisition of Shaw Wallace Co, but shifted it out a few years ago. "We want to re-introduce these anew and locate a dedicated plant, as the potential is high", Mr Rajasekhar told Business Line on Monday.

Expansion plans

The Company, which has two plants at Malkajgiri and Nacharam, is also planning to expand capacities to meet the growing demand from the State, which is the biggest liquor market now. Of the market size of 26 million cases of liquor sold last year in Andhra Pradesh, UB garnered 45 per cent. It hopes to increase it further and sell at least 12.5 million cases this year, he added.

The Company is on an innovation spree, adding features that ensure quality and check pilferage. Recently, it introduced the tamper proof, `Smart Cap' for its McDowell No. 1 whisky, its premier brand (Nip and Pint bottles), which ensures that once opened it cannot be sealed back. It is planning to extend this to other premier brands like Signature and Royal Challenge.

The other is the introduction of `Tetrapak', for its Bagpiper whisky in 180 ml sizes. Launched in Maharastra, the company has approached the AP Government for permission to introduce it in the market here. Bagpiper sales in AP alone is 5 million cases, he said.

"The value addition, without increasing costs to the consumer is showing good results in the form of a steady rise in sales," Mr Rajasekhar claimed.

More Stories on : New Projects | Breweries | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Hero Honda raises prices

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line