Pernod Ricard India is using a planned distillery in Maharashtra to illustrate its push to make more products locally, as one executive argues that India’s economic appeal extends beyond its role as a large consumer market.
Prasanna Mohile, Pernod Ricard India’s National Head – Corporate Affairs and Executive Board Member, spoke Friday, Oct. 23, at the NDTV World Summit, whose theme was “A World Between Orders.” NDTV reported that he cited infrastructure investment, digital capacity, entrepreneurship, reform efforts and population as factors in India’s long-term prospects amid global uncertainty. Mohile called India’s ability to “combine resilience with reinvention” a key strength, NDTV reported.
NDTV also reported that Mohile cited an FTI Consulting study estimating Pernod Ricard’s contribution to India’s GDP at about ₹43,000 crore and linking its wider business network to around 900,000 jobs.
The planned malt spirit distillery in Butibori, Nagpur, is one example of the company’s local manufacturing plans. Pernod Ricard India and the Maharashtra government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the facility on Feb. 23, 2024. The company described the planned investment as up to €200 million over a decade. In an October 2024 update, it put projected spending at up to ₹1,785 crore over 10 years and said it had committed about ₹100 crore, including land costs, by then. It also said the facility’s design and layout had been finalized.
Pernod Ricard has set a target of 700 to 800 direct jobs and eventual annual barley purchases of up to 50,000 metric tons from farmers across India. The company’s projections point to expected employment at the plant and demand for agricultural suppliers.
Pernod Ricard’s FY25 annual report identifies India as its second-largest market by net sales and reports an average growth rate of 8% there over the previous five years.
