United Spirits Profit Falls 2% Amid Weak Sales of Budget Brands
United Spirits, the Indian subsidiary of global beverage company Diageo, reported a 2% decline in second-quarter profit on October 28, 2026, as weaker sales of lower-priced alcoholic beverage brands and regulatory changes affected performance. The company posted a profit of ₹462 crore for the quarter ended September 30, compared with ₹472 crore in the same period last year.
Revenue for the quarter fell 2.7% to ₹7,001 crore. The company’s popular brands segment recorded a 22.7% decline in like-for-like net sales value, affected by higher taxes on non-local brands in Maharashtra and recent policy changes in Karnataka. Analysts had anticipated a significant drop in sales volumes in the popular segment due to the regulatory shifts in Karnataka.
United Spirits is also among alcoholic beverage companies facing scrutiny over the alleged misclassification of bulk Scotch whisky imports under the India-UK free trade agreement. In an October 17 stock exchange filing, the company said authorities had searched its offices at multiple locations as part of an industry-wide exercise. The company added that it had provided the requested documents and clarifications.
Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright
