New Delhi: Cobra Beer, the biggest-selling bottled Indian beer in the UK, has won the coveted ‘Business of the Year’ award category in the annual ‘Eastern Eye Asian Business Awards.’ This award honours the contribution and remarkable achievements of Asian entrepreneurs and businesses in Britain.

Says Cobra Beer founder and CEO Karan Bilimoria: “We at Cobra Beer are delighted to have won such a prestigious award and hope that we inspire a new generation of young Asians to follow their dreams.

“When I first came to Britain I was told that, as an Asian, if you wanted to succeed there was only so far I could go before I would hit a glass ceiling. What I have come to learn, from creating Cobra Beer from scratch and against all odds in the most competitive beer market in the world, is that if you have the passion, drive and aspiration to succeed, there is no greater or more meritocratic country in which to achieve this than Great Britain.

“I believe that here, there is the opportunity for anyone to succeed regardless of race, religion or background. The Asian community is doing so well in the UK in every field including business, politics, sports, medicine and the arts. I am fortunate to feel equally at home in both the UK and India, and I am proud of my Zoroastrian Parsi roots, my Indian heritage, being an Asian and being British.”

Gurmeet Khangura, chairman of Ethnic Media Group, publishers of Eastern Eye Newspapers, says: “The Business of the Year Award is given to businesses that have made a big impact in the wider business community. Cobra Beer has not only achieved this through first-class marketing campaign but has also continued to show exceptional growth year after year.”

Launched in India in April 2002, Cobra Beer is the largest-selling bottled Indian beer in the UK. Cobra Beer is one of the fastest-growing beer brands in Britain, with a current turnover approaching £50 million at retail value. The beer has been exported to over 30 countries worldwide, and has been awarded Gold for two successive years at the 2002 and 2001 Monde Selection, Brussels — World Selection of Quality.

It was also listed on the 1999 Virgin Fast Track 100 list of the fastest growing, privately owned companies in the UK. Headquartered in London, Cobra Beer has offices throughout the world, including India, South Africa and the US. Cobra Beer and General Bilimoria Wines are presently available in New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and Pune.