Hyderabad: SABMiller India, the world's leading brewer, has introduced Castle, its world-famous brand, in Hyderabad. It will now be available across retail outlets, bars and restaurants in Hyderabad in two convenient pack sizes of 650 ml and 330 ml.

Castle is being brewed by Mysore Breweries Ltd Bangalore, which is a subsidiary of SABMiller India, after significant technology upgrades to retain the internationally acclaimed taste and flavour.

Available in an attractive amber-coloured bottle with the famous red-and-gold label, Castle is a world-renowned beer with a balanced taste. The brand is aimed at beer enthusiasts across the age group of 25-40 and embraces the spirit of friendship and camaraderie. Castle has been introduced in Hyderabad after its significant success in many other part of the country.

Says SABMiller operations director (south and west India) David Kvalsvig: "The consumer in Hyderabad is an astute and avid beer drinker and we are delighted to offer them the Castle experience. Like in other parts of the country, we are confident of providing a consistent, quality product with great refreshing taste."

The introduction of Castle in Hyderabad signals SABMiller's intent to develop the brand presence across India and notably in Andhra Pradesh, which is now the largest beer consuming market in India. The marketing initiatives in Hyderabad will focus on innovative on- and off-premise promotions for consumers at suitable opportunities.

SABMiller India Ltd is a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, the second-largest growing company in the world. SABMiller Plc (formed after South African Breweries Plc acquired Miller Brewing Company of the US) is the world''s second-largest brewer by volume with proforma 2001-02 lager volumes in excess of 120 million hectoliters, or over 1.5 billion Indian cases.

SABMiller has 115 brewing operations with over 69,000 employees across Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, North and Central America and Asia. It has a portfolio of strong brands that include the legendary names such as Castle Lager, Pilsner Urquell and Miller. SABMiller also bottles and distributes Coca-Cola products in many parts of the world besides a range of its own consumer beverages.

SABMiller is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges and has a market capitalisation of approximately $6.5 billion (Rs 55.2 billion). The company has its corporate headquarters in London. It also has the primary listing on London Stock Exchange where it is a part of the FTSE 100.

SABMiller's expansion into India is a part of its global strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging markets. The company began its Indian operations in October 2000 when it acquired Narang Breweries in Uttar Pradesh. Thereafter, it acquired Mysore Breweries Ltd (MBL) in Bangalore and Pals Distilleries Ltd in Aurangabad.

It has now, through its subsidiary MBL, acquired a majority stake in Rochees Breweries Ltd at Neemrana in Rajasthan. Today, the group has a combined capacity of 9 million cases per annum from four breweries in India.

At present, SABMiller India brews and markets an array of significant brands including the world-renowned Castle, the ever-popular Knock Out, and Three Lions in most markets in India.