Biz File

Beer sales turn bullish
With a 59 per cent spurt in sales during 1997-98, the Shaw Wallace and Company claims that it has acquired a 22 per cent share of the country’s 62-million case per annum beer market. Against an industry growth of 8 per cent during the last four years, Shaw Wallace’s growth rate of 38 per cent has made it the fastest growing beer company in India, according to a company press release. The sales have moved up to from 3.9 million cases in 1993-94 to 13.5 million cases in 1997-98, raising the company’s market share from merely 8 per cent to 22 per cent over four years. The company’s Haywards 2000 and Haywards 5000, besides Royal Challenge Premium Lager, have also shown a growth rate of over 40 per cent per annum, the release added.

VISA enters new strategic alliance
Visa International, engaged in the business of Visa card sales, has entered into a strategic alliance with India’s leading consumer payment processing service company, Equifax Venture Indotek to enhance the growth and development of India’s payment card industry. The company claims that the agreement would enable payment card transactions to be safer and quicker.