USL becomes world's No 2 spirit co

United Spirits Limited clocked sales volume of 100 million cases for the fiscal ended March 31, 2010, becoming the world's second largest spirit company by volumes, UB group chairman Dr Vijay Mallya,announced on Wednesday.

"This achievement makes United Spirits Limited the flagship company of the UB Group, the world's second largest spirits company by volumes, dislodging Paris-headquartered Pernod Ricard," he told reporters here.

 Another major milestone was United Breweries, the Group's beer division also crossing sales volume of 100 million cases for fiscal year March 2010, he said. "It is a double whammy", said an elated Mallya.

He said "We have done extremely well,despite the economic slowdown this year. This has been made possible through our sheer dedication and commitment to the vision of becoming the best in the business. It wasn't long ago that we were merely a three million case company.

We have created new history in the world of beverage alcohol by selling 740 million cases in about a quarter of a century". Mallya said the Indian spirits industry today is pegged at 236 million cases and USL has a 59 per cent market share in the segments it operates. "We are certain that our additional sales in the next financial year will take us to the number one position globally", he said. Retail sales value of the spirits portfolio sales of USL for the 100 million cases sold is Rs 300 billion (Rs 30,000 crore).

UBL sold 100 million cases in 2009-10 whose retail value is around Rs 82 billion (Rs 8200 crore), he said.