Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
 

 

UK NRI, owner of Cobra Beer expanding in India with new bottling pact

 

New Delhi, March 20, 2008
Sant Singh

NRI Mr. Karan Bilimoria founder and CEO of Cobra Beer in UK is expanding its operations in India for new strategic bottling pact by the joint venture with Khoday and Mohan Meakin.

Cobra Beer will:

      • Source 50,000 cases each from these two units monthly
      • Set a target to increase its sales volume to 15 million beer cases annually by 2012 in India. Now Cobra sales is about about 3 million cases
      • Bolster Cobra’s presence in the southern markets that account for around 50% of the overall domestic beer consumption.

Three years ago, Karan Bilimoria started its operations in India through a bottling alliance with Mount Shivalik Group, kicking off market operations in Delhi, and expanded into other states such as Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.

In the year 1989, he  came up with an idea to import Indian lager to Britain. In 12 years, Cobra beer became the fastest growing bear brand in the UK market, and turnover in retail value terms is now approaching £50 million. Karan had a debt of £ 20,000 to cover. Financially, his enterprise had to depend on a bank overdraft and small business loans.

During the years 1995 – 1998, sales of Cobra beer soared by 68.77%. In 1999-2000, his enterprise clocked a 52% growth in sales. About 90% of the Indian restaurants stock Cobra beer and offer it to their clients.