United Breweries Ltd. has established itself as a dominant force in India's beer market, with managing director and CEO Vivek Gupta confirming the company holds a nearly 50% market share. According to reports from NDTV Profit, the company's local procurement activities contributed ₹6,900 crore to the Indian economy during financial year 2024-25. The alcoholic beverage firm has launched its socio-economic impact report, highlighting beer's role as more than just a consumer product. As per the latest study by Amsterdam-based impact consultancy Steward Redqueen, UBL directly generated ₹15,200 crore in value added in India during FY 2024-25.
As reported by Business To Business, United Breweries contributed ₹43,000 crore to India's economy in fiscal 2024-25, representing 0.1% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The company generated ₹1,800 crore in earnings, salaries and taxes during the same period. However, the latest study by Amsterdam-based impact consultancy Steward Redqueen reveals that ₹30,600 crore of this contribution came through tax payments across the company's value chain, providing a significant and stable source of revenue for public finances. The tax contribution was equivalent to around 1.3% of total tax revenues of Indian states, demonstrating the sector's substantial fiscal impact. According to the report, for every ₹100 spent on beer by consumers, approximately ₹63 flows to state governments, supporting public services and infrastructure across states. The findings highlight the significant fiscal contribution made by the brewing industry through excise duties, GST, corporate taxes, and other indirect taxes.
According to the Steward Redqueen study, United Breweries created 2,95,000 employment opportunities, equivalent to 0.05% of the economy's total employment. The company's own operations supported 9,368 jobs - comprising 2,910 UBL employees, 400 estimated jobs at contract brewing units, and 6,058 contract workers. An additional 2,86,000 jobs were supported indirectly across the value chain, with the study noting that for every one person employed directly at UBL, an estimated 31 additional employment opportunities were supported across the wider economy. The report highlighted that over 93% of procurements worth ₹6,900 crore are sourced domestically, including ₹700 crore spent on agricultural sourcing from Indian farmers. UBL purchased ₹6,900 crore worth of goods and services from domestic suppliers during FY 2024-25. The study suggests that the company's business activities support thousands of direct and indirect jobs while generating substantial income for suppliers and distributors.
According to Vinod Giri, head of the Brewers Association of India, as reported by NDTV Profit, the beer industry contributed ₹51,000 crore in taxes during fiscal 2025. Giri characterized beer as a social drink with deep impact on the hospitality sector. The Brewers Association head noted that the beer market in India is experiencing rapid growth, with nine states creating policies around low alcohol content beverages in the last 18 months and ten states rolling out tailored tax systems favorable to beer. The latest findings reinforce the significant contribution of the brewing industry to the Indian economy through investments, employment generation, agricultural linkages and tax collections. Industry observers believe that continued investment in manufacturing, supply chains, and responsible business practices will remain important for sustaining long-term growth, as India remains one of the world's fastest-growing beverage markets, driven by rising urbanisation, changing consumer preferences, and increasing disposable incomes.
