Indian alcohol maker Radico Khaitan's Q2 profit rises on robust premium demand

BENGALURU, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Indian liquor maker Radico Khaitan (RADC.NS) reported a 19.4% rise in second-quarter profit on Monday, driven by strong demand for its premium brands.

Consolidated net profit rose to 618.7 million rupees ($7.4 million) in the three months to Sept. 30, from 518.2 million rupees a year ago.

Since last year, the company has increasingly focused on expanding its premium segment, called Prestige and Above, catering to a consumer group largely unaffected by inflationary pressures.

Sales in the premium segment, which includes Magic Moments vodka and Jaisalmer gin, rose nearly 22% to 2.8 million cases in the July to September period. The segment comprises nearly 41% of total sales and over half of the total revenue.

Its low-priced segment sales, however, fell 16.5% to 3.2 million cases.

Revenue rose 23.1% to 37.15 billion rupees for the quarter.

\“We expect demand momentum to improve with the upcoming festive season,\” Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Lalit Khaitan said in a statement.

Meanwhile, prices of Extra Neutral Alcohol, a key liquor-making ingredient, have risen due to high grain prices while other input costs, such as for glass, paper, and packaging, have fallen, analysts said.

This led to the companys raw material costs spiking 15.4%, resulting in total expenses increasing 23% to 36.32 billion rupees.

Radico Khaitan is the first among major listed Indian liquor companies to report its results. Rivals United Spirits (UNSP.NS) and United Breweries (UBBW.NS) will report their results later this week.

Shares of Radico Khaitan closed 1.3% lower ahead of its results. They have risen 28.7% so far this year, compared to a 22% climb in United Spirits and 6.5% decline in United Breweries.

($1 = 83.1860 Indian rupees)