Penchant for High-End Alcoholic Drinks: A Comprehensive Landscape of Top 10 Alcoholic Beverage Companies

Alcoholic beverages, as the name suggests, are drinks that have high alcoholic content. They are primarily made from berries, fermented grains, and sugars in fruits, and other ingredients, such as plant sap, tubers, milk, and honey. These drinks are distilled to reduce the water content in the original liquid and enhance the concentration of alcohol present in them. There are three categories of alcoholic beverages – beers, wines, and spirits. Nowadays, many companies operating in this industry are including functional and natural ingredients to make premium alcoholic drinks and attract rich customers.

The demand for alcoholic beverages is anticipated to increase in the future owing to people’s increasing participation in various social events, such as wine tasting festivals. These events give companies a chance to leverage the latest trends in the beverage industry and introduce newer beverages in the market to expand their customer base.

Fortune Business Insights has stated in its report that the market for alcoholic beverages is anticipated to record a valuation of USD 5,716.2 billion by 2032 and USD 2,527 billion in 2024, recording a CAGR of 10.74% during the forecast period of 2024-2032. The market recorded a valuation of USD 2,313.2 billion in 2023. 

Here Is A List Of The Top 10 Alcoholic Beverage Companies That Enjoy A Vast Customer Base Due To Their High-Quality Alcoholic Beverages:

1. Anheuser-Busch InBev Sa/NV

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV is a reputed company operating in the alcoholic beverage industry and has a vast client base. The company serves its products across the world and is now focusing on expanding its business to make different varieties of drinks. In addition to this, Anheuser-Busch is embracing digitalization and other product innovations. It is also increasing its efforts to make its business operations more sustainable and fortify its global presence.

May 2022: Anheuser-Busch InBev Sa/NV announced the launch of a new range of beer under its brand Seven Rivers in the Indian market. The new beer range contains ingredients that have been naturally sourced and chosen to suit the Indian palate. This move is expected to help the company improve its existing range of products and offer its consumers high-quality beers.

2. Heineken N. V.

Heineken N. V. is an independent brewing company that makes high-quality beers and builds brands with a global presence. It is one of the most prominent cider producers and brewers in the world, and has a total of 300 cider and beer brands that are available in over 190 nations. The company sells its products to its customers through wholesalers, retailers, their subsidiaries and operating companies, taprooms, hotels, pubs, and bars.

March 2023: Heineken launched Heineken Silver in the U.S. The drink is a premium lower-cal, lower-carb beer and consists of 4% alcohol by volume. It was brewed specifically for the American consumers and contains 3.2g of carbs and 95 calories in a 12-oz serving. Heineken Silver is expected to be available both on-premises and off-premises retail channels across the country.

3. Diageo

Diageo is a reputed international alcoholic beverage maker. It is a beer and spirits distributor with more than 200 brands and sells its products in over 180 nations across the world. Diageo has 132 manufacturing facilities sites globally that are used for distillation, research and development, brewing, maturation, warehousing, and packaging spirits and beer.

May 2022: Diageo approved an investment in new research and development centers in Shanghai, China. Through this investment, the company will focus on innovating and launching new products to attract Chinese customers and improve its offerings for local customers.

April 2022: Diageo announced an investment of USD 42.8 million to increase the capacity of its packaging plants in England and Northern Ireland to support the growing demand for its beer products: Guinness Draught and Guinness Zero.

4. Constellation Brands, Inc.

Constellation Brands, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of alcoholic drinks that makes and promotes wine, beer, and spirits. The company conducts in operations in Mexico, the U.S., New Zealand, and Italy. It has 12 wineries in the U.S., which use various varieties of grapes that are mainly grown in the Napa, Monterey, Sonoma, and San Joaquin regions of California. It also has two wineries in New Zealand and six wineries in Italy.

January 2022: Constellation Brands Inc. announced its plans to invest around USD 5 - USD 5.5 million in Mexico by 2026. This investment will be used to build a new plant in Veracruz to increase its beer business. The funds will also support the company in manufacturing an additional capacity of 25 million to 30 million hectoliters of beer.

5. Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is one of the leading and top 10 alcoholic beverage companies that makes a wide range of wine, whisky, gin, vodka, and other drinks and contains different ingredients, tastes, and flavors. The company has a vast and complete portfolio of products with around 240 premium brands in more than 160 nations. Pernod Ricard has a huge presence in Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, Europe, and North America through its brands, such as Chivas Brothers, The Absolut Company, Irish Distillers, and others.

December 2023: Pernod Ricard revealed that it had added a new locally-made whisky to its Indian portfolio of products. These new product launches are expected to help the company improve its current product range and offer its consumers better-tasting and quality products.

6. Brown-Forman Corporation

The Brown-Forman Corporation is a U.S.-based alcoholic beverage producers/company that produces, supplies, and packages liqueurs, distilled spirits, RTD products, and wines under different brands. The company promotes its products in over 170 countries across the world.

August 2023: Brown‑Forman Corporation launched its own distribution business in Slovakia. This move helped the company move its distribution in-house for the first time since it entered the market.

7. Bacardi

Bacardi Limited is one of the most well-known spirits manufacturing companies in the world, and has over 200 brands and labels that together make up the Bacardi family of brands. It has its manufacturing plants in nearly 10 countries across the world, with its brands being sold in over 170 countries.

January 2024: Dewar's Blended Scotch Whisky launched its latest iteration from its Double Double range, “Double Double 21Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask Finish”. The new product secured the 7th position on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2023.

8.Carlsberg Breweries, A/S

Carlsberg Breweries A/S is a Danish international brewery group that deals in the production and distribution of a wide variety of beers and other brewed items. Carlsberg’s product range is bifurcated into two major segments: core beer (craft & specialty brands, international & local brands, and alcohol free-brews) and other beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages). The company serves its B2C customers by increasing its presence in 100 countries and exporting almost 70% of the total volume of its drinks to over 150 markets globally.

March 2023: The Carlsberg Group revealed that it had purchased all the outstanding and issued common shares of Waterloo Brewing. This acquisition is expected to help Carlsberg compete in the Canadian RTD drink beverages and local beers segment.

9. Suntory Holdings Limited

Suntory Holdings Ltd. is an internationally renowned distilling and brewing company group. It makes alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, food, and different types of health and wellness products. Kotobuki Realty Co., Ltd. is the parent company of SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED. Suntory Holdings has expanded its presence in other fields and operates sandwich chains and makes soft drinks today.

February 2024: Suntory Holdings announced the global expansion of “-196”, its Japanese Ready-To-Drink brand. “-196” is famous for its vodka-based fruit-flavored RTD drinks. This brand is expected to make its debut in 21 states across the U.S. starting in February. In the next quarter, it will be made available in Great Britain and Germany.

10. Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. is one the leading players in this industry as it specializes in the production and promotion of spirits, beer, food items, and soft drinks. It has 70 production facilities, with over 200 subsidiaries operating across the world. Asahi is focusing on increasing its business potential by investing in its product portfolio.

January 2024: Asahi Europe & International declared that “Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%”, an alcohol-free variant of the super-premium Italian beer brand, commenced a new partnership with Ferrari.

What is the future of the alcoholic beverages industry?

The alcoholic beverages industry is predicted to showcase commendable progress in the coming years owing to a notable rise in the number of wine tasting and beer brewing events, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic era. As customers are witnessing an appreciable rise in their disposable incomes, they are splurging on high-end alcoholic drinks, which will further propel the growth of this industry.