Abhishek Khaitan (MD, Radico Khaitan) illustrates how his distillery incorporates Indian heritage and Sanskrit into ultra-luxury single malts.
Opinion
Khaitan: Scaling a liquor brand realistically requires at least ₹50 crores
“With a six crore fund, you, it's like, if you click it, you're a god. But you should have that capital of at least 50 crores, et cetera.”
Insight
Khaitan: New Alcohol Startups Need 70-80% Gross Margins to Survive
“For any newcomer you have to, your gross profit has to be high. It has to be 70 to 80%, else you'll fail. If you try to compete with the masses, big boys will take you.”
Insight
Khaitan: Alcohol brands cannot force sales through heavy capital and advertising
“Because what I believe in alcohol, you cannot push sales. You have to win sales. Like, as I said, first 10,000 is important. So even sometimes I brew with that idea whether is it the right strategy, but in my last 20 to two decades of my experience, I feel It'…”
Insight
Khaitan: Luxury spirits above ₹8,000 must rely on PR, not direct marketing
“If the higher you go, suppose you go eight, 10,000, you don't need any marketing. If you market, you won't be able to sell. The only thing should be Word of mouth and PR press and the competitions.”
Assertion Supported
Khaitan: Magic Moments accounts for 60% of India's vodka sales
“Today we are proud that magic is the seventh largest vodka in the world. And in India, out of all the vodkas, starting from a regular to a Grey Goose or a Kaufman, 60% of any vodka sold is magic.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Khaitan: Pan-India Liquor Distribution Requires 35 Bottling Units
“In our industry, if you want to go all India, you have to have 35 bottling units.”