Pepsi Bottler Goes Boozy: Varun Beverages Surges on Carlsberg Beer Deal & Q3 Profit Jump
After decades of selling PepsiCo sodas and bottled water, Varun Beverages is making a bold pivot into booze. The company’s board on Wednesday approved adding alcoholic drinks to its business scope, a strategic move to diversify beyond soft drinks. “In response to the growing popularity of Ready To Drink and [a] variety of alcoholic beverages, VBL sees an opportunity for expansion into [this] business… including beer, wine, liquor, brandy, whisky, gin, rum, [and] vodka in India & abroad,” the company said in a statementndtvprofit.com. In other words, the Pepsi bottler will now also be an alcoholic beverages company, eyeing a piece of the high-growth beer, cider and spirits market.