In this article, we are going to discuss the 5 most valuable alcohol companies in the world. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the global alcohol industry, the impact of Covid-19 on alcohol consumption, and the recent shifts in the global alcohol market, head to 15 Most Valuable Alcohol Companies in the World.
5. Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST)
Market Cap: $62.31 billion
Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless, and Burn. It was announced in 2022 that the beverage giant had acquired the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, in a deal worth $330 million. The acquisition gave Monster ownership of CANarchy’s craft breweries including Cigar City, Oskar Blues, Deep Ellum, Perrin Brewing, Squatters, and Wasatch.
The company spent the early weeks of 2023 rolling out a line of alcoholic beverages. Called The Beast Unleashed, the drinks are made with malt alcohol and contain 6% alcohol by volume, though no caffeine or energy-inducing ingredients.
On the 31st of January 2024, Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) announced that effective immediately, CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective would operate under the name Monster Brewing Company. CANarchy’s new alcohol products, The Beast Unleashed™ and Nasty Beast™ Hard Tea, now represent the majority of the California-based company’s alcohol beverage sales. This change will better align the business with Monster’s brand equity, particularly as these products are expected to continue to play an increasingly important role in CANarchy’s future activities.
4. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)
Market Cap: $81.89 billion
Diageo plc is a British multinational alcoholic beverage company with its headquarters in London, England. With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, Diageo is among the Biggest Liquor Companies in the World. The company’s portfolio has remarkable breadth across spirits and beer, with brands such as Guinness, Captain Morgan, Johnnie Walker, and Smirnoff etc. Diageo is reportedly seeking a buyer for a trio of its brands as it looks to restore its profits and increase its value for shareholders. The owner of Guinness and Baileys has hired financial service group Rothschild to explore the sale, which includes Pimm’s, fruit liqueur brand Safari, and Pampero rum. Each brand could be offloaded individually or as a three.Fiduciary Management Inc. (FMI), an independent money management firm, featured Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) in the Q4 2023 investor letter, and made the following statement:
“Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is the #1 player in the large and attractive global spirits industry, with #1 positions in Scotch, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, and Rum. Total Beverage Alcohol (TBA) is a $950+ billion market, with Diageo at 4.7% of TBA, and aspiring to 6% by 2030. Premiumization in spirits is value creating, and Diageo owns 9 of the top 30 global brands, including Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Smirnoff, and Guinness. 12 of Diageo’s top brands are over 140 years old. The company has strong exposure to growth in emerging markets (38% of sales) and has proven to be a superior brand builder. The Diageo portfolio has been optimized, with limited reliance on M&A over the last decade. Capital allocation has been shareholder friendly. Following a period of post-COVID inventory destocking, Diageo trades at its lowest valuation in 10 years.”
3. Wuliangye Yibin Co.,Ltd.
Market Cap: $83.38 billion
Wuliangye Yibin Co.,Ltd. manufactures and sells liquor and wine products under the Wuliangye brand in China. In 2008, the traditional baijiu-making techniques of Wuliangye were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2017, the brand value of Wuliangye ranked No. 60 in the ‘Top 500 Asian Brands’, No. 100 in the ‘Top 500 Most Valuable Brands in the World’ and No. 338 in the ‘Top 500 World Brands’.
Wuliangye Yibin Co.,Ltd. is included among the Top 4 Alcohol Companies globally.
2. Anheuser-Busch InBev Sa/NV (NYSE:BUD)
Market Cap: $118.171 billion
Anheuser-Busch InBev Sa/NV (NYSE:BUD) is the Largest Beer Producer in the World. The company had a production volume of 595 million hectoliters, or over 25% of the global beer production in 2022, with a revenue of $57.7 billion and a net income of almost $6 billion, making it the Richest Alcohol Company in the World.
The beer behemoth faced some headwinds in the American market after the recent controversy regarding its best-selling brand Bud Light, which resulted in the iconic brand losing its crown as the Best-Selling Beer in America after nearly two decades. Nevertheless, billionaire Bill Gates’ portfolio managers decided to initiate a $96 million position in the firm during the second quarter of 2023.
Anheuser-Busch InBev Sa/NV (NYSE:BUD) is now looking to make a comeback after it scored a sponsorship for the upcoming Olympic Games, making it the first beer company to ever sponsor the grand event. The IOC specifically highlighted Corona Cero – the non-alcoholic version of the global best-seller Corona – as the beer of choice for the partnership, which will stretch from the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer games to Los Angeles 2028 Summer games.
1. Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.
Market Cap: $299.2 billion
Kweichow Moutai is China’s largest producer of baijiu – a traditional and strong alcoholic spirit made from sorghum, wheat, and barley. The company reported a revenue of $17.85 billion in 2022, with a net income of $8.78 billion. The group has also been seeking to expand outside of China, as in 2016, 95% of its sales were within its homeland.
Since April 2017, Kweichow Moutai has been the Most Valuable Liquor Company in the World.
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