Asahi Group Holdings has signed a franchise agreement with Varun Beverages Limited to launch its CALPIS brand in India, marking its first entry into the country's non-alcohol and non-carbonated beverage market. A ready-to-drink dairy-based product under the CALPIS name will be introduced in the second half of 2026 or later, with two flavors: Original and Mango. Under the alliance, Asahi will handle product development and technical support while its local subsidiary manages marketing and brand management, and Varun Beverages will oversee manufacturing, distribution, and sales. India's non-alcohol beverage market has grown roughly 2.3 times in volume over the past decade through 2025, driven by a population exceeding 1.4 billion and rising health consciousness. Varun Beverages is the second-largest PepsiCo franchisee outside the United States, operating 53 production facilities across India and international markets.
Asahi Group Holdings LtdAsahi enters India's growing non-alcohol beverage market with CALPIS, expanding its product reach.
PepsiCo IncVarun Beverages gains a new franchise agreement to manufacture, distribute, and sell CALPIS in India.