News: Diageo plans to set up Indian bottling units

(BS 21/09/2006) Mumbai - Diageo India is planning a manufacturing footprint across the nation in the near term. Asif Adil, managing director, Diageo India and South Asia, said the company would have bottling units in the north, south and east. At present, it has units in Aurangabad and Madhya Pradesh.

Adil said the move to consider local bottling units stemmed from the excise structure and regulations. The company has enough capacity at the existing bottling units.

Diageo could either set up bottling units or tie up with local bottlers. Adil was speaking on the sidelines of its brand launch, Shark Tooth, which marked the entry into the prestige vodka segment.

Shark Tooth, distilled and bottled in India, would be available in two variants, Shark Tooth and Shark Tooth Extra containing ginseng.

The company targets sales of one million cases of Shark Tooth. The priority would be Indian market and would then look at West Asia.