It all started with five small breweries in South India, the oldest of which Castle Breweries dated back to 1857. Then in 1915, Thomas Leishman, a Scotsman, combined these breweries to form United Breweries Ltd.

The popularity of their beers soon spread and within a short time, bullock carts carrying huge 'hogsheads' of Kingfisher became a familiar sight in Madras, the Nilgiris and Bangalore, the headquarters of United Breweries Ltd. Today, 19 breweries operating to capacity supply the ever-increasing demand for United Breweries' range of beers in India.

Kingfisher, the flagship brand of United Breweries and the best-selling Indian Lager worldwide, is now available in over 52 countries and is exported from the UK to Europe and North America and from India to major markets in the Middle East, South East Asia, the Far East and Australasia, and it is also served on board 6 international airlines.

Kingfisher was first imported from Bangalore in to the UK in 1982 in the traditional large 650ml bottles. It rapidly gained a foothold in the fast expanding Indian Restaurant market and within three years, demand for the brand was so great that production had to be switched to England. Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewer, was selected to brew Kingfisher under licence and to the Indian specification at their brewery in Faversham, Kent.

In 1989, a further step was taken to maximise the brand's potential when UBSN Ltd, a joint venture between United Breweries and Shepherd Neame was formed to combine the experience and expertise of the two brewers.

Apart from the 19 breweries in India and UBSN in Faversham, Kent, Kingfisher is also brewed at Mendocino Breweries' Saratoga Springs site in New York State, USA.

The UK operation is the supply centre for exports to Canada and 19 Continental European markets.

Since then, sales in the UK have soared and Kingfisher is now the No.1 selling Indian Lager in the UK and also in Indian Restaurants where it is sold in more than 7000 licensed outlets. It is available in both draught and bottles, and the brand is scoring increasing success in the UK take home sector with listings in almost all major supermarkets chains.