Suntory India, which was announced by Suntory Holdings earlier this week, will handle back-office corporate functions in the country. Based in Gurugram in the northern state of Haryana, the subsidiary has been created to “build a firm business foundation and accelerate growth in [Suntory Holdings’] existing spirits business and establish opportunities for soft drinks as well as health & wellness businesses”.
Operations will commence next week.
“India is a remarkably attractive market and a key geopolitical player on the global stage, with strong cultural and economic ties with Africa, the Middle East and Asia,” said group CEO Tak Niinami. “Together with … Suntory Global Spirits, we will enhance our presence as a multi-faceted beverage company in this vital market … to build foundations in India through investments and partnerships.”
Earlier this year, spirits peer Pernod Ricard unveiled plans to build a “malt spirit” distillery in central India at a cost of EUR200m (then-US$216.6m). The facility was at the memorandum of understanding stage in February with construction not yet scheduled to start.
