India: United Breweries claims over 50% of India’s beer market, industry observers peg its share lower

United Breweries Ltd. (UBL) currently has over 50% share of India's beer market, estimated at over 200 million cases, while SABMiller India has around 30%, Indian Express reported, citing UBL data, on March, 31.

Thriving on competition, India’s UBL has not only withstood the challenge of several iconic international beers entering the country in the past five years, it has also upped its market share and widened the gap between its nearest rival. What’s more, the Bangalore-based brewer now plans to gain the extra edge by entering the super-premium beer category with Heineken this July.

Estimates by Euromonitor International, the London-based market research company, peg UBL' market share lower. It say the market share by volume of UBL, whose brands include Kingfisher, UB Export and Kalyani Black Label, grew to 45.4% in 2010 from 43% in 2006, while SABMiller's share, marketing Haywards, Fosters, Royal Challenge and Knock Out, declined to 31.8% from 36.5% in the same period.

UBL's top brand Kingfisher alone had around 40% market share in 2010.

01 April, 2011