2. CONTENT
Introduction
The Rise
The Facts
The Icons
The Products
The Fall
The Partnership
The Foundation
3. INTRODUCTION
Cobra Beer was founded in 1989 by Karan Bilimoria,
along with his friend Arjun Reddy
Karan Bilimoria, then aged 27 and £20,000 in debt
4. INTRODUCTION
Karan Bilimoria is a Cambridge law graduate and
qualified Chartered Accountant
Bilimoria launched Cobra Beer when it became clear
to him that Britain needed a smoother, less gassy lager
that appealed to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers
alike, and that complemented all types of cuisines
5. THE RISE
Cobra Beer was founded in 1989 by Karan Bilimoria,
along with his friend Arjun Reddy in a flat in Fulham,
South London, UK
A brewer in Bangalore, India, Dr Subroto Cariapa, and
the owner of Mysore Breweries, Mr. Balan, liked the
idea of the beer and helped create Cobra
Brewed to an authentic Indian recipe, Cobra Beer's
unique blend of Barley Malt and Yeast with Maize,
Hops and Rice produces a distinctive full-flavoured
lager with exceptional drinkability
6. THE RISE
The first shipment of Cobra was imported in the UK in
1990, at the start of a recession
It first brewed in Bangalore in 1990 and imported to
UK for seven years. In 1997 Cobra commenced brewing
under license with Charles Wells Ltd.( which is now
known as Wells and young’s) in UK
Within five years from the lunch, the one million mark
in sales revenues was crossed
By 2001 Cobra, from which Karan's partner had now
exited, had a turnover of nearly £13 million with a sales
growth rate of nearly 60% per year
7. THE RISE
By 2007 Cobra was being sold in over 45 countries, and
had a total production capacity of 450,000 cases per
month
Revenues stood at £30 million in 2007 and, with rapid
expansion, were expected to cross £100 million by 2010
8. THE FACTS
Cobra Beer was one of the fastest growing beer brands
in the UK
It has been exported to over 30 countries worldwide
, and is available nationwide in more than 5,000
Indian restaurants and in major supermarkets
Headquartered in London, UK, Cobra Beer has offices
throughout the world, including India, South
Africa, and the USA
Cobra Beers have been awarded a total of 55 Gold
medals since 2001
9. THE FACTS
The beer was originally brewed
in Bangalore, India, for export to the United Kingdom;
the company now has contract brewing operations in
the UK, Belgium and India
Originally planned to be called Panther, the beer was
ready to go, but the name wasn't popular with
customers and was changed to Cobra at the eleventh
hour
10. THE ICONS
On every Cobra Beer bottle you'll find it’s story
embossed into the very glass. Which brings to life the
journey it took from a brewery in Bangalore to the lips
of beer lovers all over the World
11. THE CROSSED SWORDS
Symbolize the army background of original Cobra
founder, Karan Bilimoria, whose father was
General Officer Commander-in-chief of the
Central Indian Army
12. THE ELEPHANTS
Symbolize the way in which youth acquires
enlightenment from seniority. Over time countless
combinations were brewed to eventually create the
perfect beer to accompany curry. The master
brewer crafted Cobra using knowledge passed
through the generations.
13. THE SNAKE CHARMER
Symbolizes the magic of the traditionally Indian
Cobra recipe, blending malted
barley, maize, hops, rice, yeast, water and a little
less gas than other beers
14. THE SCALES
Symbolize the way in which the odds were weighed
against Cobra's success in the early days. Through
dedication and determination to produce the
finest beer to compliment curry, Cobra is now the
preferred choice of Indian restaurants
15. THE PALM TREES AND BUILDING
Symbolize Bangalore, where Cobra was crafted and
first brewed, and Britain, where Cobra is now the
leading Indian beer, home to some of the world's
finest Indian restaurants and host to chefs who are
creating new styles and flavour combinations
whilst always staying true to the rich heritage and
history of Indian food
16. THE BOAT
Symbolizes the journey from Bangalore to Britain
and also the 40 countries to which Cobra is now
exported
18. THE FALL
Business losses acceleration in 2007 with total losses
reaching £13.6m on an annual turnover of around
£45m. The business was approximately £26million in
debt and had borrowings from venture capitalists
attracting interest at daily compound rate of 15%
Then at the age of 47, Bilimoria's world came crashing
down around him after Cobra, laden with hedge fund
debt, collapsed into administration
19. THE FALL
In June 2011 it was reported that Molson Coors had
purchased a 51% stake in Cobra India, which will be
named as Molson Coors Cobra India. The remaining
49% of the venture will be controlled by Cobra founder
Bilimoria
20. THE PARTENERSHIP
Cobra Beer is owned by MOLSON COORS Brewing
Company (UK) Limited as a 51% shareholder. Cobra
Beer is now British Beer Company.
The Cobra Beer Partnership is a joint venture company
that combines the Brewing, selling and Marketing
expertise of the international brewer MOLSON
COORS , with Cobra Beer’s iconic Brand and strong
presence in ethnic restaurants and off trade
21. THE FOUNDATION
Cobra Foundation is an independent charity
providing health, education and community
support for young people in South Asia, especially
through the provision of safe water
There charitable objectives include giving help
with Disaster Relief in the Region
