Allied Blenders and Distillers to acquire Moradabad distillery assets for US$7.7M
ABDL plans Moradabad acquisition to boost bottling capacity and strengthen backward integration in India’s key liquor market.
INDIA – Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABDL) is set to acquire a non-operational distillery and bottling facility in India from liquor maker National Industrial Corporation (NICOL), as the spirits company accelerates its expansion strategy.
In a regulatory filing, the Indian spirits group said it will pay up to ₹700 million (US$7.7 million) for the assets, which are located in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The acquisition includes land, buildings, plant, machinery and the relevant licences.
In addition to the purchase price, ABDL said it will invest up to ₹400 million (about US$4.4 million) to upgrade ground infrastructure and establish a bottling unit at the facility.
“The proposed acquisition is in line with the growth strategy and to enhance backward integration capabilities of the company,” ABDL said in the filing.
The company noted that the Moradabad site includes “adequate” land to support future expansion of existing capacity.
“This acquisition will enhance our IMFL bottling capacity in Uttar Pradesh and also enable us to expand the distillery capacity to increase captive consumption of ENA (extra neutral alcohol),” the company said.
ABDL added that the transaction will strengthen its Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) bottling footprint in Uttar Pradesh, one of the country’s largest alcohol markets.
The acquisition is expected to be completed by 31 July, subject to customary conditions. ABDL said the facility upgrade will be completed within 12 months of closing, noting that definitive agreements have already been signed.
Allied Blenders and Distillers markets several leading spirits brands, including Officer’s Choice Whisky, Sterling Reserve and ICONiQ White whisky.
The company has also been expanding its manufacturing capabilities elsewhere. Last week, ABDL announced the appointment of Scotch whisky specialist Dr Martin Leonard as a consultant to advise on the commissioning of a new distillery.
Construction of a single-malt distillery at Rangapur in Telangana is currently underway, with commissioning expected in the fourth quarter of the company’s 2026 financial year.
In September last year, ABDL commissioned a PET bottle manufacturing facility in Rangapur, following a capital expenditure of about Rs 1.15 billion (US$13.7 million). The plant is designed to produce more than 600 million PET bottles annually.
In August, the spirits maker scrapped plans to acquire a 51% stake in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage producer Good Barrel Distillery.
For the financial year 2025, ABDL reported income from operations of Rs 3,541 crore (US$425 million). Looking ahead, the company has guided for double-digit volume growth and mid-double-digit growth in net sales value, targeting annualised growth of 14–15% over the next three fiscal years.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
