India: Asia Pacific Breweries plans to set a brewery in North India

Asia Pacific Breweries said it is looking at either setting up a brewery in north India or acquiring an existing one, but has not set any timeline for the purpose, Economic Times reported April 16.

"We desire to have a brewery in north India especially in Punjab or Harayana or Rajasthan. There is no timeline set for it as we are not in a hurry," Asia Pacific Breweries Regional Director Vivek Chhabra told reporters here.

Chhabra was in the city to launch the company's flagship beer brand Tiger.

At present, the company has breweries at Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, to feed the western and southern regions.

Soon, Tiger beer would be launched in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh where it is working to get the approvals, he said. The company has invested $50 million for both its breweries in India and it is prepared to invest more in its brewery in the north.

"Funding is not an issue. Our investments in India are a fraction of what it is in China. We are open to new opportunities," Chhabra said. For Tiger beer, the company imports all the ingredients and prepares liquor at the company's Aurangabad unit.

Last year, it launched Baron's Strong Beer. The Indian beer market is estimated at 11 million hectolitres a year, which is expected to grow by 15 per cent this year. By 2012, the beer market is expected to touch 23.3 million hectolitres.

The company's greenfield brewery in Hyderabad is expected to commence operation in 2008. Asia Pacific Breweries is a joint venture between Fraser and Neave and Holland-based Heineken.