Bira 91 Employees Demand Ouster of Founder Ankur Jain

More than 250 workers at B9 Beverages, the firm that makes Bira 91 speciality beer, have demanded that founder Ankur Jain be fired from management and that the company’s leadership be changed. The workers petitioned the company’s board, the biggest lender, Anicut Capital, and significant investors, Kirin Holdings and Peak XV Partners.

According to ET, the corporation hosted a town hall in September in response to the petition. The workers’ petition stated that they were demanding a change in leadership because of “corporate governance failure, lack of transparency, delays in employee dues and salaries”, as well as creditor proceedings that highlighted “deteriorating financials” and unpaid vendor bills.

Bira 91’s Production Halted

Nearly every current employee signed the petition, according to a source.According to executives with knowledge of the matter, Bira 91’s production stopped in July. BlackRock, which was negotiating to lend the promoter group INR 500 crore in debt, has also pulled out of the talks. Jain, his mother, and his wife are on the board of the corporation.

Jain and his family owned 17.8% of the company as of June 2025, with Kirin Holdings holding the largest interest (20.1%). Jain responded to the petition by stating that the business is not aware of any such petitions sent to important shareholders. There had been no official contact to the board, he continued. Although he admitted to a “pause” in production in September, he anticipates that it will resume this month.

A number of workers informed ET that reimbursements had been unpaid since November 2024 and that salaries have been six months behind schedule. For all employees this fiscal year and for more than fifty employees during the previous fiscal year, tax deducted at source has not been deposited.

What Caused the Stir Among Bira 91 Employees?

Over 500 workers, many of whom have left the company, still owe INR 50 crore in unpaid salaries. “In addition, there have been numerous exits and layoffs,” one worker stated. From over 700 last year, the workforce has now decreased to just over 260. “It is true that we have employee overdues that have been persisting,” Jain said, acknowledging the delays.

Depending on the number of employees, these can last anywhere from three to five months. They also involve a delay in paying taxes that are owed. He claimed that by concentrating on fewer states, cutting expenses, and increasing margins, the corporation has reorganised its operations.

“This has required making difficult decisions about cost reduction, such as cutting the number of employees by almost 50% in the last 15 months.” With sales volumes down to 6-7 million cases from 9 million in FY23, B9 Beverages recorded a net loss of INR 748 crore in FY24 on revenue of INR 638 crore. According to an ET report, FY25 figures have not yet been submitted.

Volume declines and a backlog of employee, vendor, and statutory dues were the results of “significant business disruptions” over the previous 18 months, according to Jain, which were brought on by changes in the company name, changes in the spirits policy, and delays in fundraising. Production plants in Gwalior and Nagpur, he claimed, were “live” in July and August, took a break in September, and are anticipated to start up again this month.