Socio-Economic Impact Assessment for United Breweries Limited
We conducted a socio-economic impact assessment for United Breweries Limited (UBL), part of The HEINEKEN Company, to quantify its economic contribution in India.
Beer production in India supports a wide network of economic activity that extends far beyond breweries. From agriculture and packaging to logistics, retail, hospitality, and tourism, the sector generates linkages across multiple industries. However, much of this broader contribution is often not fully captured, as companies typically measure only their direct operations rather than their wider economic footprint.
To address this, Steward Redqueen applied an input–output modelling framework to estimate UBL’s impact across its value chain, covering both its own operations and its upstream and downstream partners. The assessment was conducted in partnership with Artha Global, whose expertise in Indian macroeconomic analysis helped place UBL’s contribution in the broader context of national and state-level economic development.
The study finds that UBL’s value chain contributes approximately ₹43,000 crore in value added to the Indian economy, equivalent to around 0.1% of the country’s GDP, and supports around 295,000 livelihoods across the country. These impacts span a broad range of sectors, from farmers supplying raw materials to manufacturers, logistics providers, retailers, and hospitality businesses that bring products to consumers. UBL’s footprint is closely tied to domestic supply chains, with approximately 93% of inputs sourced locally, supporting farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional supplier ecosystems across India. The study also highlights the sector’s contribution to public finances, with UBL’s value chain generating an estimated ₹30,600 crore in tax revenues for state governments. Additional analysis explored linkages with tourism and hospitality, as well as the broader economic context, highlighting how beer supports local economies, community development, and service-sector activity across India.
The findings were shared with stakeholders through a public launch event attended by representatives from government, industry, and the diplomatic community, supporting dialogue on the role of responsible investment in economic growth and domestic value chains.
