Anheuser-Busch, Crown Beers invests in India JV

Anheuser-Busch International and Crown Beers are splitting equal ownership of a new joint venture called Crown Beers India.

The deal includes a greenfield 500,000-hectoliter brewery in Hyderabad which is expected to be completed in March 2007. The companies aim to serve the Indian market which currently consumes only 8.2 million hectoliters per year, but has a CAGR of eight percent for the past five years.

Crown Beers India will produce and market the American beer Budweiser to the continent.

“Budweiser is one of the most popular beer brands in the world,” explains KVD Prasad Rao, joint managing director, Crown Beers. “The joint venture combines Crown’s local business experience with Anheuser-Busch’s global marketing and brewing expertise.”