United Breweries Limited has signed a long-term manufacturing agreement with ABB to expand brewing capacity in northern India, marking a significant strategic move in the company's operational expansion. According to Press Trust of India, the agreement will utilize ABB's brewery, which can produce 12 million cases annually and ranks among the largest brewing sites in the region. The plant produced more than five million cases in the 2025-26 financial year, representing its highest annual output to date. The facility uses German brewing technology supplied by Ziemann and operates on renewable energy-powered systems, holding FSSC 22000 and Quality Management System certifications for food safety and production controls.
United Breweries Limited has filed its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for FY26, disclosing comprehensive environmental, social, and governance performance metrics. The report, which forms part of the Annual Report for FY26, has undergone reasonable assurance by SGS India Private Limited in accordance with International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised) and ISAE 3410. SGS India confirmed that the information presented is complete, accurate, reliable, and fairly stated in all material respects, covering 19 plants and 56 offices across nine ESG attributes. The company achieved a significant sustainability milestone by achieving net zero Scope 2 emissions for FY26 through the purchase of International Renewable Energy Certificates (IRECs) totaling 84 GWh for the period April 2025 to March 2026, despite total Scope 2 emissions of 61,759 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
United Breweries contributed approximately ₹43,000 crore to India's economy during the 2024-25 financial year, highlighting its significant economic contribution to the country. The company's share price gained 5.11 per cent intraday following the release of its first-ever integrated annual report, with the stock trading at ₹1,419.90 during the session. The brewer has outperformed the Nifty FMCG index over recent periods, gaining 4.20 per cent in the past week and 4.72 per cent over one month, compared to sectoral index returns of 0.64 per cent and 1.46 per cent decline respectively. Latest trading data shows the stock trading at ₹1,407 with a book value per share of ₹171.03, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company's sustainability initiatives and operational performance.
Vivek Gupta, Managing Director & CEO of United Breweries Ltd, highlighted that the beer category trends remain positive, driven by good reforms in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra, along with favorable weather conditions. As reported by Press Trust of India, Gupta noted that industry sales have been rising at near double-digit rates in recent months, helped by favorable weather and regulatory changes in several states. The manufacturing partnership comes at a time when India's beer market is expanding at a strong pace, with the craft beer segment forecasted to reach US$1 billion by 2027 as consumer demand continues to rise. The deal provides United Breweries with added manufacturing support in northern India, where brewers are trying to improve regional coverage and respond faster to shifts in demand.
The company's financial metrics showed mixed results for FY2025-26, as reported by Business Standard. Operating costs increased to ₹7,948.07 crore from ₹7,616.87 crore in FY25, while revenue declined to ₹17,500.84 crore from ₹19,436.50 crore in the previous year. According to the latest consolidated financials, total income for FY2026 reached ₹2,258.22 crore with total expenses of ₹2,112.86 crore, resulting in EBIT of ₹145.36 crore and PAT of ₹101.78 crore. The company maintains a strong financial position with interest expenses at less than 1% of operating revenues and employee costs at 6.1% of total revenues for the year ending March 31, 2026. United Breweries operates 21 national plants and 5 international licensing units, with exports contributing 1.28% to total turnover.
Anand Kripalu, Chairperson of UBL, highlighted that conviction in the category's long-term trajectory continues to remain strong despite weather-related disruptions and affordability pressures. According to Press Trust of India, he noted that beer continues to be one of the most underpenetrated segments within the broader alcoholic beverages landscape in India, presenting significant opportunities for both volume growth and more responsible, balanced consumption. The industry continues to operate within a complex, state-led regulatory environment, where several states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh were moving towards more progressive and reform-oriented schemes. Kripalu emphasized that several states have begun adopting more progressive policies, including taxation parity measures in Maharashtra and the introduction of the alcohol-in-beverage (AIB) taxation framework in Karnataka, which support the long-term growth of the category by improving affordability and accessibility.
