UBL Set to Commission New Canning Line at Ellora Brewery, Strengthening Kingfisher Growth in Maharashtra

Maharashtra: United Breweries Limited (UBL), India’s largest beer manufacturer and part of the HEINEKEN Company, today announced the commissioning of a new canning line at its Ellora Brewery in the Waluj MIDC area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. Backed by an investment of ₹110 crore, the facility is expected to become operational in September 2026, subject to statutory approvals, strengthening UBL’s manufacturing footprint, improving brewery productivity, and enabling the company to respond to growing demand in one of India’s most important beer markets.

First Canning Line at Ellora Brewery

The new line will be Ellora Brewery’s first canning line and among the fastest in UBL’s network, with a capacity of 40,000 cans per hour. Adding canning capabilities alongside its existing bottling infrastructure will give the brewery greater packaging flexibility to respond to evolving consumer preferences, including the growing preference for cans, while supporting the continued premiumization of the beer category. The investment will also enable better utilisation of the brewery’s existing packaging infrastructure, improving operational agility and productivity by allowing UBL to optimise packaging formats based on market demand, with its current packaging capacity of up to 1.5 million cases per month.

Leadership Commentary

Vivek Gupta, MD & CEO, United Breweries Limited, said: “Maharashtra is one of India’s most important beer markets, with significant headroom for category growth and premiumization. Consumers are increasingly choosing cans for their convenience and premium drinking experience, and we are seeing this preference grow across occasions. The new canning line at Ellora Brewery strengthens our ability to respond to these evolving consumer needs, improves utilisation of our brewery infrastructure and enhances productivity. As a category maker, we will continue to invest ahead of demand, strengthen our local manufacturing footprint and help shape the future of beer in India.”

Brands and Portfolio Flexibility

The Ellora facility will initially produce cans of Kingfisher Strong, Kingfisher Premium, Bullet Strong and London Pilsner to meet growing consumer demand in Maharashtra. The added canning capability will also provide greater flexibility to optimise packaging formats across the portfolio as demand evolves, supporting the company’s premiumization strategy over time. The investment follows the commissioning of a new canning line at UBL’s Nizam Brewery in Telangana in July 2026, underscoring the company’s continued focus on strengthening its manufacturing footprint and productivity across India.

Socio-Economic Impact

Beyond manufacturing, UBL continues to build local partnerships, support communities and strengthen resilient value chains. An independent Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Study by Steward Redqueen found that in FY2024–25, UBL supported approximately 295,000 employment opportunities across its value chain in India, contributed ₹43,000 crore in value added to the Indian economy, generated ₹30,600 crore in tax revenue and sourced 93% of its procurement domestically.

Sustainability in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, UBL’s Project Oxygen Zone in Waluj MIDC, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has restored and afforested nearly five acres, created a two-lakh-litre water storage pond and planted 50,000 native saplings across more than 80 species, creating a fast-growing urban forest expected to sequester 103.54 tCO₂ annually.