United Breweries plans Rs 100 cr expansion

United Breweries Ltd plans to invest about Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) in establishing new Greenfield brewery plants in Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as well as expanding the ones existing in some states, its chairman Vijay Mallya said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the annual general meeting of the UBL in Bangalore, Mallya said the three markets were growing strongly for the company.

In the first five months (April-August 2005) of the current financial year, UBL recorded a 19 per cent growth compared to the same period in the previous year.

"We have more than commensurate growth in profitability (in April-August 2005)," he informed the share-holders.

UBL is seeking to enhance sales of its Kingfisher product overseas, leveraging the "distribution muscle" of its strategic partner Scottish & Newcastle, he said.