United Breweries value chain added Rs 5,900 crore to Maharashtra economy, supported 36,900 jobs

United Breweries Limited (UBL), part of HEINEKEN, today released its Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) report for Maharashtra. The study was carried out independently by Steward Redqueen. According to the report, UBL's value chain supported about Rs 5,900 crore in value added and 36,900 job opportunities across Maharashtra in FY2024-25, meaning the company's impact is far larger than its own operations. The study also says 23 million cases of UBL beverages were sold in Maharashtra in FY2024-25.

The study says UBL's economic contribution in Maharashtra can be seen across its entire value chain, including local sourcing and inputs for production as well as distribution, retail and on-trade outlets. As per the assessment, the Rs 5,900 crore in value added is 0.1% of Maharashtra's state GDP.

UBL Managing Director and CEO Vivek Gupta said, "The Maharashtra Socio-Economic Impact Assessment gives us a clearer understanding of the economic value created by UBL's presence in the state. From our employees and local suppliers to distributors across the value chain, this assessment shows the scale of these relationships. We are committed to strengthening these local relationships, supporting livelihoods and contributing to the communities and regions in which we operate."

On jobs, the report says UBL's operations and associated value chain in Maharashtra support about 36,900 job opportunities. These include 1,307 direct jobs at UBL, about 9,700 upstream jobs generated by suppliers and related activities, and about 25,900 downstream jobs linked to distribution, points of sale and their suppliers.

The study estimates that for every person working directly at UBL in Maharashtra, 27 more jobs are supported in the wider state economy. Of these, seven are upstream, through the purchase of goods and services, and 20 are downstream, through distribution and sale of the beverages.

On local sourcing, the company bought goods and services worth about Rs 1,400 crore from Maharashtra suppliers in FY2024-25. The study says this is 20% of UBL's total domestic procurement. The spending covers glass bottles, cans, crops used in brewing, freight, trade, chemicals, labels, professional services, CBU fees, construction, machinery and other goods and services. This shows how closely UBL is tied to Maharashtra's broader industrial and business network.

The value chain also contributes to the public exchequer. According to the assessment, about Rs 4,200 crore in tax payments, including sales-linked taxes, were supported across the value chain. The study also says that of every Rs 1 customers spend on UBL beverages, about Rs 0.63 goes to the state government as tax. The tax contribution generated by UBL is 1.2% of Maharashtra's total state tax revenue.

The company's contribution is not limited to economic activity. Community-focused programmes run under the Brew a Better India initiative. UBL's approach covers environmental protection, women's empowerment, prevention of harmful use and community development.

Under Project Oxygen Zone, UBL restored 4.94 acres of land that was earlier used as a dumping ground. The site was prepared and the soil rehabilitated. Some 50,000 native plants of more than 80 species were planted there. A water storage pond with a capacity of 2 lakh litres and deep drains were also built so that water remains available in dry months. The project has benefited more than 23,700 people and supports more than 80 native species. It yields a water benefit of 692 kilolitres a year, and is estimated to sequester 103.54 tCO2 a year.

The independent study also gives a national picture. According to Steward Redqueen, in FY2024-25 UBL's value chain in India supported about 2,95,000 job opportunities, added about Rs 43,000 crore in value to the Indian economy and generated about Rs 30,600 crore in tax revenue. The company sourced 93% of its procurement domestically. UBL continues to build local partnerships, support communities and strengthen domestic value chains beyond its own business.