Justin Joseph
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Soon Beer from Pakistan will be available in India
KOLKATA: Want a flavour of Pakistan in your beer? You may not have to wait long. Rawalpindi-based Murree Brewery plans to revive a brand exchange programme with United Breweries make and market Murree beer in India, and Murree will match the favour for UB Group's Kingfisher beer in Pakistan.
The UB Group "is open" to the proposal.
The 150-year-old Murree Brewery (named after a hill resort near Islamabad) aims to revive its old association with Kolkata during the British Raj. Murree beer was particularly popular with British troops in Calcutta during World War II, then the headquarters of Allied forces in South East Asia.
In fact, the company was listed on Calcutta Stock Exch-ange even after Partition, till 1953, and was one of the favourites in the stock market. But all that became history.
Now, after half a century, the brew biggies of the two countries may toast a new beginning. Where the Krishnas and Qureshis failed, beer buddies may score.
Murree has been trying to re-launch its products in India for five years. "We planned to make forays in the UK market and re-launch the brand Murree Beer in India in collaboration with UB. UB show-ed interest initially but backed out later for reasons best known to them," said Isphanyar M Bhandara, chief executive of Murree Brewery via email. But Bhandara did not give up. He is still looking for some sort of a business arrangement that would benefit both companies.
In response, UB Group president (breweries division) Kalyan Ganguly said: "Yes, we had talks with the Pakistani firm 4-5 years back. But nothing materialized. Since then, there have been no talks in this regard."
However, he keeps the hope alive for the future. "We are open. But nothing is happening at this moment," he said.
Murree Brewery controls 90% of the liquor business in Pakistan.
Read more: Friendship spirit soars on Pak beer - India - The Times of India Friendship spirit soars on Pak beer - India - The Times of India
United Breweries now has greater than a 40% share of the Indian brewing market with 79 distilleries and bottling units across the world. Recently UB financed a takeover of the spirits business of the rival Shaw-Wallace company giving it a majority share of India's spirits business.
The group also owns the Mendocino Brewing Company in the United States.
Kingfisher beer is an Indian Beer brewed by United Breweries Group. With a market share of over 36%, it is India's largest selling beer and is currently available in 55 countries outside India.
United Spirits Ltd (USL), the flagship spirits company of the UB Group, has overtaken Paris-headquartered Pernod Ricard as the worlds second-largest spirits company.
KOLKATA: Want a flavour of Pakistan in your beer? You may not have to wait long. Rawalpindi-based Murree Brewery plans to revive a brand exchange programme with United Breweries make and market Murree beer in India, and Murree will match the favour for UB Group's Kingfisher beer in Pakistan.
The UB Group "is open" to the proposal.
The 150-year-old Murree Brewery (named after a hill resort near Islamabad) aims to revive its old association with Kolkata during the British Raj. Murree beer was particularly popular with British troops in Calcutta during World War II, then the headquarters of Allied forces in South East Asia.
In fact, the company was listed on Calcutta Stock Exch-ange even after Partition, till 1953, and was one of the favourites in the stock market. But all that became history.
Now, after half a century, the brew biggies of the two countries may toast a new beginning. Where the Krishnas and Qureshis failed, beer buddies may score.
Murree has been trying to re-launch its products in India for five years. "We planned to make forays in the UK market and re-launch the brand Murree Beer in India in collaboration with UB. UB show-ed interest initially but backed out later for reasons best known to them," said Isphanyar M Bhandara, chief executive of Murree Brewery via email. But Bhandara did not give up. He is still looking for some sort of a business arrangement that would benefit both companies.
In response, UB Group president (breweries division) Kalyan Ganguly said: "Yes, we had talks with the Pakistani firm 4-5 years back. But nothing materialized. Since then, there have been no talks in this regard."
However, he keeps the hope alive for the future. "We are open. But nothing is happening at this moment," he said.
Murree Brewery controls 90% of the liquor business in Pakistan.
Read more: Friendship spirit soars on Pak beer - India - The Times of India Friendship spirit soars on Pak beer - India - The Times of India
United Breweries now has greater than a 40% share of the Indian brewing market with 79 distilleries and bottling units across the world. Recently UB financed a takeover of the spirits business of the rival Shaw-Wallace company giving it a majority share of India's spirits business.
The group also owns the Mendocino Brewing Company in the United States.
Kingfisher beer is an Indian Beer brewed by United Breweries Group. With a market share of over 36%, it is India's largest selling beer and is currently available in 55 countries outside India.
United Spirits Ltd (USL), the flagship spirits company of the UB Group, has overtaken Paris-headquartered Pernod Ricard as the worlds second-largest spirits company.