Carlsberg launches beer brand in India; looks at acquisitions, JVs in Asia

Mumbai: Danish brewer Carlsberg, which started operation of its brewery in Himachal Pradesh and launched its beer brand in New Delhi, said it is looking at acquisitions and joint ventures to drive sales in Asia.

Carlsberg''s brewery in Himachal Pradesh has an annual capacity of 150,000 hectolitres. By early next year, it plans to start two more greenfield units, one in Rajasthan and another in Maharashtra, each with 500,000 hectolitres annual capacity.

"Yes, we are going to grow in Asia organically and by acquiring," said chief financial officer Jorn Jensen.

"We are constantly looking at our options for acquisitions, joint ventures," he said.

Media reports had earlier said Carlsberg''s South Asia Breweries unit is planning to buy a stake in Kolkata-based Parag Breweries as well as its holding entity, Agnes Impex, and the two would subsequently be merged.

Carlsberg said it expected annual beer consumption in India to grow by more than 140 per cent by 2010. Per capita consumption in India would grow to five to six litres a year over the next few years from current levels of about a litre, the company said.