United Spirits volumes up 18%
By 2009-2-10 10:12:47
Vijay Mallya, dubbed the 'Indian Richard Branson'
United Spirits, owned by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, has said it is not concerned about an economic slowdown following 18% volume growth in its fiscal year-to-date.
Volumes rose 18% to reach 73m cases for the nine-month period from April to December, a United Spirits spokesperson confirmed to just-drinks today (8 January).
The group, which is the world's third largest spirits firm by volume, attributed the rise to new packaging for a number of whisky brands, including flagship McDowell's No.1, as well as strong marketing.
Spirits sector volume growth for the same period was 12%, said United Spirits, which is part of Vijay Mallya's UB Group.
Some analysts have said that a predicted slowdown in India's economy this year, as part of the global financial problems, may pile more pressure onto consumer goods firms. India's GDP is expected to fall from 9% in 2007 to nearer 6% in 2009, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
"We have not seen any effects from this," said the United Spirits spokesperson. Asked about 2009, she said: "We expect volumes to continue at the same pace, if not faster. We think it is highly unlikely that they will go down."
United Spirits yesterday launched Scotch whisky Whyte & Mackay Special in Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Whyte & Mackay Special will be bottled at the United Spirits plant in Nashik. The group plans to roll the brand out in key markets across India next month.
United Spirits, owned by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, has said it is not concerned about an economic slowdown following 18% volume growth in its fiscal year-to-date.
Volumes rose 18% to reach 73m cases for the nine-month period from April to December, a United Spirits spokesperson confirmed to just-drinks today (8 January).
The group, which is the world's third largest spirits firm by volume, attributed the rise to new packaging for a number of whisky brands, including flagship McDowell's No.1, as well as strong marketing.
Spirits sector volume growth for the same period was 12%, said United Spirits, which is part of Vijay Mallya's UB Group.
Some analysts have said that a predicted slowdown in India's economy this year, as part of the global financial problems, may pile more pressure onto consumer goods firms. India's GDP is expected to fall from 9% in 2007 to nearer 6% in 2009, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
"We have not seen any effects from this," said the United Spirits spokesperson. Asked about 2009, she said: "We expect volumes to continue at the same pace, if not faster. We think it is highly unlikely that they will go down."
United Spirits yesterday launched Scotch whisky Whyte & Mackay Special in Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Whyte & Mackay Special will be bottled at the United Spirits plant in Nashik. The group plans to roll the brand out in key markets across India next month.
From just-drinks.com