By Rishika Sadam, Nandan Mandayam and Indranil Sarkar HYDERABAD/BENGALURU (Reuters) -Heineken-owned United Breweries on Wednesday stopped supplying beer to Telangana in southern India, following the state's refusal to allow price rises,

United Breweries highlighted that despite continuous efforts over the past two years, there has been no increase in the base prices of its products since the 2019-20 fiscal year.

United Breweries Limited (UBL) announced on Wednesday (January 8, 2024) that it has decided to halt beer supplies to the Telangana Beverages Corporation Limited (TGBCL) with immediate effect. The image is used for representative purposes only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

United Breweries said on Wednesday that it has suspended supplying beer to a state-run corporation in the southern Indian state of Telangana, which will halt sales of popular beer brands such as Heineken and Kingfisher in one of the country's top liquor-selling states.

Heineken NV’s Indian unit suspended supply of beer to the southern Indian state of Telangana, citing unprofitable prices and missed payments.

Telangana is India's biggest beer-consuming state, with Kingfisher, including Kingfisher Strong, Kingfisher Ultra, and Kingfisher UltraMax, accounting for around 60 per cent of the total sales. Telangana accounts for around 15-20% of United Breweries’ beer sales and 10%-12% of the company's earnings.

United Breweries Ltd's shares fell over 7% after suspending beer supplies to TGBCL due to financial concerns and unpaid dues. The stock is currently trading 13% below its 52-week high, despite a 23% increase in net profit for Q2 FY25.