India: Carlsberg commits to invest RS 1,250 crore in India over next three years

Carlsberg India have committed to invest Rs 1,250 crore in India over the next three years. The investment was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at World Food India 2025, held between 25 and 28 September at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Business World reported on September 29.

The plan includes a Rs 500 crore greenfield brewery in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, which will be the company’s largest site investment in this phase. In addition, Rs 400 crore will be directed towards brownfield expansion at its Hooghly facility in West Bengal, while Rs 350 crore will support expansion at its Mysuru brewery in Karnataka, first announced in early 2025.

Carlsberg India currently operates seven breweries across Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka. The new round of investments is aimed at strengthening brewing and packaging capacity in regional markets.

The company expects incremental procurement of nearly Rs 600 crore in raw and packaging materials over three years, covering malt, glass, cans, cardboard and logistics. Nilesh Patel, managing director of Carlsberg India, said the projects will expand operational capacity, create employment opportunities and generate excise revenues for state governments.

Carlsberg India is the country’s third-largest brewer, with a market share of about 17–21 per cent, behind United Breweries (Heineken) at roughly 50 per cent and AB InBev at around 21–22 per cent. Its portfolio includes Tuborg, the second-largest beer brand in India and the leading international brand in the market.

India’s beer sector, valued at Rs 483 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to Rs 1,241 billion by 2034 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9 per cent. Key drivers include higher disposable incomes, rapid urbanisation, expanding on-trade consumption and rising acceptance of beer among younger consumers. Around 800 million people are of legal drinking age, with about 20 million added each year, positioning India as a priority market for global brewers despite regulatory constraints in some states.

The latest investment follows Carlsberg’s recent expansion in India, including a Rs 350 crore commitment for its Mysuru facility earlier in 2025, later raised to Rs 600 crore. The company has also been in discussions with investment banks about a potential initial public offering (IPO) of its Indian subsidiary.

The announcement is part of a wider investment push at World Food India 2025, which secured commitments exceeding Rs 65,000 crore from multinational and domestic companies. For Carlsberg Group, headquartered in Copenhagen, India remains a priority growth market, with the new investment reinforcing its long-term strategy in the country’s food and beverage sector.