AB InBev invests Rs 200 crore in Rajasthan brewery as beer demand surges beyond big cities

Mumbai: AB InBev India, the maker of Budweiser and Corona, has invested about Rs 200 crore in a new manufacturing facility in Neemrana, Rajasthan, as the beer maker expands manufacturing capacity to cater to growing demand across North and central India.

The facility, Rochees Breweries Ltd (RBL), commenced operations in July and is positioned to serve Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and other markets, the company said in a statement on Monday.

The investment, set to strengthen AB InBev’s manufacturing footprint in North India, follows discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever during the Belgian leader’s India visit, according to the company.


The move comes as premium beer consumption gains traction beyond India’s larger urban markets. “Fundamentally, I think now the growth starts to be almost equal in urban, semi-urban and rural. In fact, what has caught us completely by surprise is the rural growth,” Kartikeya Sharma, president, AB InBev India, told ET.

Sharma said the company’s breweries were running at more than 100% capacity during the peak season and that it was preparing for further demand growth. “The full focus now has shifted towards readiness for FY27,” he said.

AB InBev has invested more than $1.5 billion in India since 2016, including in local manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities. The company holds the leading position in the premium and super-premium beer segments.

India has also emerged as the third-largest market globally for Budweiser, according to Sharma, who said the company’s ambition is to make India the brand’s largest market over the next decade.