Pernod Ricard India & Government of Maharashtra Sign an MoU to Establish a Malt Spirit Distillery at Nagpur with an Investment of up to € 200M

India, 23rd Feb, 2024: The Government of Maharashtra and Pernod Ricard India, a global leader in the wine and spirits industry, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish one of the biggest malt spirit distilleries in India, in the industrial suburb of Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Furthering Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’, Pernod Ricard India plans an investment up to 200 M€ in the decade. The MoU signing was graced by Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis; Minister of Industries, Maharashtra, Shri Uday Samant; Maharashtra Excise Minister, Shri Shambhuraj Desai; Principal Secretary Industries Dr. Harshdeep Kamble along with Jean Touboul, CEO, Pernod Ricard India; Prasanna Mohile, National Corporate Affairs Head, Pernod Ricard India and Gagandeep Sethi, Senior VP, Integrated Operations, Pernod Ricard India.

With the commissioning of this distillery, Pernod Ricard India aims to employ a workforce up to 700 to 800 ultimately. This commitment extends not only to the construction phase of the distillery but also encompasses the post-commissioning operations of the plant. Beyond the immediate impact, this is poised to create a ripple effect, positively influencing indirect employment opportunities throughout the region.

India has proven to be a strategic market for Pernod Ricard Group, a global leader in the alco-bev industry. Pernod Ricard India is not only committed to investing in the country, but also fostering employment opportunities and skill development initiatives for local communities, focusing on farmers. With this project, Pernod Ricard India aims to eventually procure up to 50,000 tons of barley on an annual basis from farmers nationwide. In due course, the company aims to work jointly with the Government to develop capabilities of barley cultivation in the State of Maharashtra to boost farmers’ income.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said “We believe that infrastructural growth is the first step towards amplifying advancement for any State & we are delighted that Pernod Ricard India shares our vision to invest in the economic and skill development of the region and the country. The foundation of this distillery will assist in creating strong avenues for employment and aid in spurring growth of ancillary industries and services. And most importantly this would serve as a platform of opportunities for thousands of farmers of the region to attain steady income and bring agricultural diversity and stability.”

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pernod Ricard India have been actively working together and have identified a suitable location to build the distillery. MIDC has come forward with the necessary support and assistance, providing the regulatory permissions for the project and paving the way for its success, in the state of Maharashtra.

Jean Touboul, CEO, Pernod Ricard India, said, “We are excited to announce the launch of one of India’s biggest malt spirit distilleries, to be set up in Nagpur, in Maharashtra. This initiative is in continuation of our dedicated efforts to Make and Innovate in India and we are confident that it will elevate India's standing on the global map, as a key player in the production of high-quality malt. The establishment of this distillery will provide a boost to various allied sectors in and around Nagpur and the state of Maharashtra. Further, the foundation of the plant will aim to provide local entrepreneurs and the farmer community with new avenues of growth. As a leading player in the alco-bev segment for over 30 years, inclusive and sustainable growth has been at the heart of our India strategy. We are honored to work with the Government of Maharashtra which shares a similar vision."

The malt spirit distillery will integrate sustainable practices and technologies across processes from inception.

Pernod Ricard India aims to accelerate the nation’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. With this investment, the company is laying down the foundation stones for sustainable and inclusive development, which will eventually become the lifeline across communities, pump in economic vitality, foster social cohesion, and create convivial experiences.