The Hindu Business Line : Cobra Beer plans first production unit in Punjab

New Delhi May 18 The UK-based Cobra Beer on Friday said that it would be setting up its first greenfield unit in Punjab with an investment of around $10 million. The second unit at Hyderabad will follow with a similar investment.

"We are in the process of setting up a company owned greenfield project in Punjab that should be operational by the middle of next year," said Ms Poonam Chandel, Chief Operating Officer, Cobra Beer.

"Initially we will start with 5-million cases per annum capacity and later triple the scale," said Mr Karan Bilimoria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cobra Beer. The company currently manufactures beer from four contract facilities in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Patna and Goa.

The company had earlier announced its plans to set up a facility in Hyderabad. "Ideally, to make a modern unit, an investment of around Rs 60-Rs 70 crore is required, excluding land costs," said Ms Chandel. The second unit will also have similar capacities as the upcoming Punjab facility and will be functional by the end of 2009, she said.

"We will launch our range of wines in India sometime around October," said Ms Chandel. Mr Bilimoria said that initially the company would launch a red and a white wine and then depending on market conditions launch other varieties as well. "The wines we introduce in India will be different from those available in other countries, since it will depend on the variety and quality of grapes we get here," said Mr Bilimoria. In England, the company had initially introduced 10 wine variants.

The company is talking to two domestic wineries with which plans would be finalised by mid-June.

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