India: United Breweries aiming at 25-30% growth in premium segment every quarter

United Breweries Limited (UBL), the Bengaluru-headquartered beer maker, is looking to clock in 25-30 per cent growth in its premium segment every quarter, according to Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Vivek Gupta, Business Standard reported on September 5.

“Premiumisation is a key strategy for us. As we expand our offerings and portfolio, we are investing significantly in this segment…Naturally, there may be occasional challenges, as seen this quarter when prolonged heavy rains impacted the beer industry,” Gupta told Business Standard.

Moreover, while the Heineken subsidiary expects the beer industry to grow 6–7 per cent annually, it is aiming to outperform the market with double-digit volume growth each year. “To support this, we are expanding capacity to meet rising market demand,” Gupta said.

In the premium segment, the beer maker said it is sharpening its portfolio by focusing on select brands. While its mainstream labels — Kingfisher and Kingfisher Premium — remain core, the company is confident on its premium lineup with Ultra, Ultra Max, and international brands like Heineken and Amstel. At the same time, it continues to cater to the economy segment through brands such as Bullet, London Pilsner, and Kalyani Black Label, which are being scaled across select Indian states.

“We are confident each of these brands will play a key role in driving growth in the premium category as well as for UBL overall. Our number one priority is ensuring Kingfisher remains strong and solid as a flagship brand in both domestic and overseas markets. We continuously revitalise and invest in Kingfisher. Premiumisation is critical, and we are witnessing significant traction in Ultra and Ultra Max, which are driving much of our premium growth. Heineken and Amstel, though not yet fully distributed in India, are also showing tremendous potential,” the CEO said.

Looking ahead, Gupta outlined plans to scale up, noting that UBL is working to localise select brands while expanding its manufacturing footprint. The company continues to step up investments, surpassing previous year’s levels.

“In the coming years, UBL aims to be a category maker rather than a follower. With a 50% share of India’s beer market, we see it as our responsibility to shape how the category is positioned. Our focus is on making beer more affordable and accessible, while building the right portfolio and driving consumer conversion.”

The Indian beer market is reportedly poised to grow to $7.31 billion (over ~600 billion) by 2028, at a CAGR of 8.1 per cent.