"India Remains One Of The Largest Markets For Brandy Globally"

Tilaknagar Industries is one of the leading IMFL companies and is today amongst the largest alcohol beverage players in the country, by volumes as well as revenues. A brandy-first company, Tilaknagar Industries is the maker of Mansion House Brandy, which is India's most popular and highest selling brandy. In this interview, the company's Chairman and Managing Director Amit Dahanukar narrates the success story

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Amit Dahanukar Chairman & Managing Director Tilaknagar Industries Ltd.

How do you expect your margins to trend in the coming years? Are there any cost-saving measures or pricing strategies that you anticipate will impact margins?

In the medium to long term, we believe that Tilaknagar Industries' margins will continue to expand. During the previous quarters, inflationary pressures have been apparent and persistent in the alcohol beverage sector, especially with regard to raw materials. Despite this, the company's operating margins have been expanding on the back of price increases in key markets, the prevailing trend in favour of premium quality, state mix and the operating leverage on account of increasing volumes.

In the financial year ended March 2024, Tilaknagar Industries' earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) jumped by over 35.2 per cent to ₹185 crore as against ₹137 crore in FY23. In addition to this, the company's EBITDA margin also expanded by more than 150 basis points (bps) to 13.3 per cent in FY24 from 11.8 per cent in FY23. As on March 31, 2024, Tilaknagar Industries' gross and net debt stood at *119 crore and ₹74 crore, respectively. With an aim to go near net-debt free by March 2025, the company has reduced its debt by more than ₹130 crore during the last financial year.

As a result, the company has witnessed a significant reduction in its interest costs which has further improved the profit after tax (PAT) margins and strengthened the cash flows. In FY24, the company reported PAT, excluding exceptional items, at ₹141 crore, recording an impressive growth of 95 per cent over FY23, and a margin expansion of 385 bps. In FY24, the company further strengthened its brandy leadership through a steady mix of market share gains with the help of premium millionaire brands 'Mansion House Brandy' and 'Courrier Napoleon Brandy.