UB Spirits to enter china,

Bangalore, Sep 19 (UNI) The UB Group is all set to make a foray into China spirits market, with the UB Spirits Company shortly setting up a marketting office in Shanghai.

UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya, talking to newsmen on the sidelines of the United Breweries Annual General Meeting said that he had identified the Executive who would head the Chinese operations.

He said initially the Group would market its liquor products in China. ''I had visited the country and looked around, there is enough space for our brands in the market'' he added.

Commenting on the expansion plans he said the United Breweries would invest Rs 400 crore to expand brewing capacity across the country in the next three years. The exercise would increase the capacity by 50 per cent he said adding that expansion of capacity was envisaged in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Replying to a question he said United Breweries would launch Kingfisher Wine within the next six months. He said beer and wine would gel well and all efforts would be made to encash on the super brand equity of Kingfisher.

Similarly UB would also be soon launching a premium beer brand ''UB Ultra'' to take head on the competition from multinational beer brands such as foster.

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