Bira 91 raises $70 million in Series D funding from Kirin Holdings

Bira 91, one of the world’s fastest-growing premium beer company, has raised $70 million in Series D funding, in a round led by leading Japanese beer company - Kirin Holdings.

The investment from Kirin Holdings comes at a time when the demand for beer is witnessing a massive surge and the company continues to strengthen its national & global presence as it aims to cement its leadership position in the premium beer market.

“India has embarked on its Golden Decade of growth. As the fifth largest economy in the world, with increasing digitalization, and a stable, growth-oriented government, we are very excited to invest further in the “Make in India” journey for the country. We believe that Bira 91 has the potential to premiumize Indian beer through innovation by brewing the highest quality products for the country’s consumers. We also believe that over the long term, Bira 91 has the potential to break out internationally as a global brand,” shared Hiromasa Honda, Managing Director, Kirin Holdings Singapore.

The funds will be deployed to expand production capacity by commissioning new breweries and expanding its existing facilities. The capital will also be utilized to increase the company’s distribution footprint across the country and internationally, and further bolster Bira 91’s product development and innovation capabilities.

“We are delighted to see Kirin Holdings doubling down on India and our company. We have forged a special partnership with Kirin that goes beyond capital and is driven by our long-term purpose – our purpose to drive the shift in beer towards more flavor, our purpose to become global leaders in innovation and sustainability,” added Ankur Jain, CEO, and Founder of B9 Beverages.

Bira 91 recently announced its goal to become the country’s first carbon-neutral beer company and has formed the B9-Kirin Center for Sustainable Growth based out of its New Delhi headquarters, where technical and strategy experts from Kirin are helping the Indian company with its Net Zero goal.

In the last few years, Bira 91 has witnessed tremendous growth. As one of the youngest players in the market, the brand has secured a double-digit share in several key markets and emerged as the fourth-largest beer company in India. The company launched in 2015, has a portfolio of 10 diverse flavors in its portfolio, along with many seasonal beers released in its tap rooms. The company recently announced an acquisition of the largest beer-pub chain in the country – The Beer Café. The company has a presence across 550 towns in 18 countries across the globe.