United Breweries Group 2440370 225941240 2008-07-16T03:14:18Z Bunnyhop11 7345738 {{Infobox Company | name = United Breweries Group | logo = [[Image:Ub logo.gif]] | type = [[Conglomerate (company)|Conglomerate]] | genre = | foundation = [[1857]] | founder = Thomas Leishman | location_city = [[Bangalore]] | location_country = [[India]] | location = | locations = | area_served = [[India]] | key_people = [[Vijay Mallya|Dr. Vijay Mallya]], [[Chairman]] | industry = [[Brewery]]<br>[[Alcoholic Beverage]]<br>[[Airline]]<br>[[Chemicals]] & [[Fertilizers]]<br>[[Information Technology]]<br>[[Pharmaceuticals]] | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = United Breweries Ltd ({{BSE|532478}})<br>United Spirits Ltd ({{BSE|532432}})<br>Kingfisher Airlines[http://www.flykingfisher.com]<br>Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd[http://www.mangalorechemicals.com/]<br>UB Global (trading company)<br>UBICS, Inc. | subsid = | slogan = | homepage = [http://www.theubgroup.com] | footnotes = | intl = }} {{Infobox Brewery | name = United Breweries (UB Group) | image = | caption = | location = [[Bangalore]], [[India]] | owner = Dr.[[Vijay Mallya]] | opened = [[1857]] | production = | active_beers = {{brewbox_beer|name=Kingfisher Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Kingfisher Light Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Kingfisher Strong Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Kingfisher Super Strong Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Flying Horse Royal Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Kalyani Black Label Strong Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Premium Ice Beer|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Raj Cobra|style=[[Lager]]}} {{brewbox_beer|name=Taj Mahal Premium Lager|style=[[Lager]]}} | seasonal_beers = | other_beers = }} [[Image:1010 0972.jpg|thumb|250px|A Kingfisher beer advertisement in Goa]] [[Image:Kingfisher Premuim.JPG|thumb|250px|A bottle of Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer]] '''United Breweries Group''' or '''UB Group''', based in [[Bangalore]], is a [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] of different companies with a major focus on the [[brewery]] (beer) and alcoholic beverages industry. The company markets most of its beer under the Kingfisher brand and has also launched [[Kingfisher Airlines]], a domestic airline service in India. The group is headed by Dr.[[Vijay Mallya]] who is also a member of the [[Indian Parliament]]. United Breweries now has a near-monopoly over the Indian brewing market, thanks to its recent takeover of the rival [[Shaw-Wallace]] company. The group owns the [[Mendocino Brewing Company]] in the United States. ==History== The UB Group was founded by a [[Scotland|Scotsman]], [[Thomas Leishman]] in [[1857]]. The Group took its initial lessons in manufacturing [[beer]] from [[South India]]n based [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] [[breweries]]. At the age of 22, [[Vittal Mallya]] was elected as the company's first Indian director in [[1974]]. After a year, he replaced [[R G N Price]] as the chairman of the company. [[Image:UB Towers.jpg|thumb|left|UB Group's headquarters in Bangalore, India]] United Breweries made its initial impact by manufacturing bulk beer for the British troops, which was transported in huge barrels or "Hogsheads". Kingfisher, the Group's most visible and profitable brand, made a modest entry in the sixties.During the [[1950]]'s and 60's, the company expanded greatly by acquiring other breweries. First was the addition of McDowell as one of the Group subsidiaries, a move which helped United Breweries to extend its portfolio to wines and spirits business. Strategically, the Group moved into agro-based industries and medicines when Mallya acquired [[Kissan]] Products and formed a long-term relationship with [[Hoechst AG]] of [[Germany]] to create the Indian pharmaceutical company now known as [[Aventis]] Pharma , the Indian subsidiary of the global pharma major [[Sanofi-Aventis]]. ===The Logo=== The [[Pegasus]], which is the symbol of the United Breweries, first found its place as the Group logo in [[1940]]. Then, the [[Helladic]] horse – associated with [[beer]] and [[nectar]] in Greek [[mythology]]- carried a beer cask between the wings, ostensibly because beer formed the core operations of the Group. Later, the beer cask was removed to represent the Group’s multifaceted operations . Now, it is just the Pegasus. ===Present history=== Sales of the United Spirits Ltd. are expected to exceed 60 million cases during the fiscal year 2005-06 making the Group the third largest manufacturer of [[Distilled beverage|Spirits]] products in the world<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_25/b4039056.htm/ "India's Life Of The Party"], [[BusinessWeek]]</ref>, only after [[Diageo]] PLC and [[Pernod Ricard]]. In addition, UBL is one of only three in the world to own seven millionaire brands and at least five brands rated by [[Drinks International]], UK, to be amongst the ten fastest growing brands in the world in their respective categories. The market share of the Spirits Division in India is currently 60% and exports to the [[Middle East]], [[Africa]] and Asian countries are growing rapidly. The UB Group’s Brewing Enity - called United Breweries Limited (UBL) - has also assumed undisputed market leadership with a national market share in excess of 50%. Through a process of aggressive acquisition and market penetration, The UB Group today controls 60% of the total manufacturing capacity for Beer in India. The flagship brand, Kingfisher is now sold in over 52 countries worldwide having received many accolades for its quality. With plans to becoming a global player United Spirits Ltd. (USL), the flagship of the UB group, purchased the Scottish distiller [[Whyte and Mackay]] in May 2007 for £595 million (Rs. 4,800 crore)[http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/17/stories/2007051706161700.htm]. This would bring the brands of W&M like The Dalmore, Isle of Jura, [[Glayva]], Fettercairn, [[Vladivar Vodka]], and Whyte & Mackay Scotch under its portfolio. The UB group is also into manufacture of Fertilizers. The group company [[Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers ]] ( [[MCF]] ) has factory at [[Panambur]] in [[Dakshina Kannada]] district of Karnataka. The group entrance to the [[IT]] sector had also been marked by the formation of UBICS, Inc. The company provides IT consulting, services and professional IT products to business companies. In August 2007, the group made a first-of-its-kind media alliance for the promotion of NDTV Good Times, a lifestyle television channel run by [[NDTV]]. ==Products== ''Taj Mahal'' is a 4.5% [[Alcohol by volume|abv]] [[pale lager]], Kingfisher Beer, Officer's Choice Whisky, 8 PM Whisky, Director's Special Whisky == Financials == In July 2007, United Breweries Limited reported volume growth of 16.3% compared to the previous year. == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.kingfisherworld.com/ Kingfisher World] website * [http://www.theubgroup.com/ United Breweries Group] website * [http://www.theubgroup.com/beveragealcohol.html Beverage Alcohol] * [http://www.ubics.com Information Technology] *[http://www.mangalorechemicals.com Mangalore Chemical and Fertilizers] [[Category:Beer and breweries in India]] [[Category:Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange]] [[Category:Companies established in 1857]] [[Category:Economy of Bangalore]] [[Category:Beverage companies of India]] [[Category:Indian company stubs]] [[Category:Companies based in Bangalore]] [[Category:Conglomerate companies]] [[pt:United Breweries Limited]]