Domestic premium beermaker Bira 91 acquired The Beer Cafe, India’s largest alcobev chain, in an all-stock deal that will turn the pub chain into a fully-owned subsidiary of Bira 91. Shares of Bira 91 will be distributed to The Beer Cafe’s investors, which include promoters Rahul and Bineeta Singh, Mayfield, Granite Hill, and RB Investments.
Bira 91 will have a retail presence through The Beer Cafe’s 33 locations, while the pub chain will receive support from the beer company in terms of innovation and supply chain. “The transaction will enable Bira 91 to strengthen its presence in pubs and build a direct-to-consumer platform focused on beer,” said Ankur Jain, CEO of Bira 91. With this acquisition, Bira 91 hopes to accelerate the growth of beer culture in India and deepen consumers’ beer experience, according to him.