Spain & India: Mahou SA eyeing potential launch of its San Miguel beer in India

Spanish beer giant Mahou SA is eying a potential launch of San Miguel beer to boost its presence in the Indian market. Mahou, which owns he trademark in Europe, has had early discussions with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) of Philippines in this regard, The Financial Times reported on December 16.

The Manila-based food and beverage giant holds the rights or San Miguel in India.

Mahou had acquired San Miguel Fabricas de Cerveza SA as part of a consolidation move to create the largest brewing group in Spain. Mahou entered India three years ago through a joint venture with Arian Breweries in Rajasthan, and later took full control of the company , making a significant step in its international expansion.

Mahou managing director Alberto Rodriguez Toquero said the company and SMC have discussed possibilities of working together to make San Miguel a bigger international brand. These discussions have covered possible cooperation in India, where Mahou operates its first international subsidiary, he added. "We may not make money in India for long, but we believe it's a great market for the next generation of Mahou shareholders," Toquero said.

The privately held Mahou's reported revenue and EBITDA are 1.2-billion euros and 254-million euros, respectively. The largest Spanish beer maker fetches 14% of its revenue from overseas markets, which has doubled in the last five years. In 1890, the family of Casimiro Mahou established the first brewery in Madrid and went on to make Mahou surname one of most influential independent brewers in Europe. The 125-year-old, Madrid-based brewer introduced the eponymous flagship brand which is available across 11 markets in India.

16 December, 2015