United Breweries Group
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| United Breweries Group | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Conglomerate |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Founder | Thomas Leishman |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, India |
| Area served | India |
| Key people | Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman |
| Industry | Brewery Alcoholic Beverage Airline Chemicals & Fertilizers Information Technology Pharmaceuticals |
| Divisions | United Breweries Ltd (BSE: 532478) United Spirits Ltd (BSE: 532432) Kingfisher Airlines[1] Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd[2] UB Global (trading company) UBICS, Inc. |
| Website | [3] |
| United Breweries (UB Group) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bangalore, India |
| Owner(s) | Dr.Vijay Mallya |
| Year opened | 1857 |
| Active beers | |
| Kingfisher Lager | Lager |
| Kingfisher Light Lager | Lager |
| Kingfisher Strong Lager | Lager |
| Kingfisher Super Strong Lager | Lager |
| Flying Horse Royal Lager | Lager |
| Kalyani Black Label Strong Lager | Lager |
| Premium Ice Beer | Lager |
| Raj Cobra | Lager |
| Taj Mahal Premium Lager | Lager |
United Breweries Group or UB Group, based in Bangalore, is a conglomerate of different companies with a major focus on the brewery (beer) and alcoholic beverages industry. The company markets most of its beer under the Kingfisher brand and has also launched Kingfisher Airlines, a domestic airline service in India.
The group is headed by Dr.Vijay Mallya who is also a member of the Indian Parliament. United Breweries now has a near-monopoly over the Indian brewing market, thanks to its recent takeover of the rival Shaw-Wallace company. The group owns the Mendocino Brewing Company in the United States.
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[edit] History
The UB Group was founded by a Scotsman, Thomas Leishman in 1857. The Group took its initial lessons in manufacturing beer from South Indian based British breweries. At the age of 22, Vittal Mallya was elected as the company's first Indian director in 1947. After a year, he replaced R G N Price as the chairman of the company.
United Breweries made its initial impact by manufacturing bulk beer for the British troops, which was transported in huge barrels or "Hogsheads". Kingfisher, the Group's most visible and profitable brand, made a modest entry in the sixties.During the 1950's and 60's, the company expanded greatly by acquiring other breweries. First was the addition of McDowell as one of the Group subsidiaries, a move which helped United Breweries to extend its portfolio to wines and spirits business. Strategically, the Group moved into agro-based industries and medicines when Mallya acquired Kissan Products and formed a long-term relationship with Hoechst AG of Germany to create the Indian pharmaceutical company now known as Aventis Pharma , the Indian subsidiary of the global pharma major Sanofi-Aventis.
[edit] The Logo
The Pegasus, which is the symbol of the United Breweries, first found its place as the Group logo in 1940. Then, the Helladic horse – associated with beer and nectar in Greek mythology- carried a beer cask between the wings, ostensibly because beer formed the core operations of the Group. Later, the beer cask was removed to represent the Group’s multifaceted operations . Now, it is just the Pegasus.
[edit] Present history
Sales of the United Spirits Ltd. are expected to exceed 60 million cases during the fiscal year 2005-06 making the Group the third largest manufacturer of Spirits products in the world[1], only after Diageo PLC and Pernod Ricard. In addition, UBL is one of only three in the world to own seven millionaire brands and at least five brands rated by Drinks International, UK, to be amongst the ten fastest growing brands in the world in their respective categories. The market share of the Spirits Division in India is currently 60% and exports to the Middle East, Africa and Asian countries are growing rapidly.
The UB Group’s Brewing Enity - called United Breweries Limited (UBL) - has also assumed undisputed market leadership with a national market share in excess of 50%. Through a process of aggressive acquisition and market penetration, The UB Group today controls 60% of the total manufacturing capacity for Beer in India. The flagship brand, Kingfisher is now sold in over 52 countries worldwide having received many accolades for its quality.
With plans to becoming a global player United Spirits Ltd. (USL), the flagship of the UB group, purchased the Scottish distiller Whyte and Mackay in May 2007 for £595 million (Rs. 4,800 crore)[4]. This would bring the brands of W&M like The Dalmore, Isle of Jura, Glayva, Fettercairn, Vladivar Vodka, and Whyte & Mackay Scotch under its portfolio.
The UB group is also into manufacture of Fertilizers. The group company Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers ( MCF ) has factory at Panambur in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
The group entrance to the IT sector had also been marked by the formation of UBICS, Inc. The company provides IT consulting, services and professional IT products to business companies.
In August 2007, the group made a first-of-its-kind media alliance for the promotion of NDTV Good Times, a lifestyle television channel run by NDTV.
[edit] Products
Taj Mahal is a 4.5% abv pale lager, Kingfisher Beer, Officer's Choice Whisky, 8 PM Whisky, Director's Special Whisky
[edit] Financials
In July 2007, United Breweries Limited reported volume growth of 16.3% compared to the previous year.
