India’s Global Capability Center (GCC) landscape is getting a spirited upgrade — and this time, it’s powered by the alcobev industry. Global beer and spirits giants, traditionally known for their iconic brands and deep distribution muscle, are now turning to India to build next-generation digital, data, and operations hubs. From Bengaluru to Hyderabad and Gurugram, these GCCs are helping the world’s biggest alcobev brands drive innovation, efficiency, and global transformation at scale.
Diageo: Raising a Toast to Shared Success
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Brands: Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Guinness, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray
Diageo, one of the world’s largest spirits companies, operates a significant presence in India through its majority stake in United Spirits Limited. India GCC supports finance, digital transformation, analytics, and technology operations, playing a crucial role in Diageo’s global digitization and innovation agenda. The centre is also an integral part of Diageo’s efforts to streamline global operations, drive consumer insights, and foster digital supply chain excellence.
AB InBev: Brewing Digital Transformation
Headquarters: Leuven, Belgium
Brands: Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois
AB InBev’s GCC in Bengaluru serves as a cornerstone for the brewer’s global digital and data strategy. The center manages finance, analytics, supply chain, and automation for operations spanning multiple continents. By embedding AI, data science, and digital-first thinking into its workflows, AB InBev’s India hub is redefining how one of the world’s largest beverage companies operates in real-time.
Carlsberg Group: Crafting IT Excellence from India
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
Brands: Carlsberg, Tuborg, Kronenbourg 1664, Somersby
Carlsberg Group has launched its first-ever Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Gurugram in Sep 2025, with a supporting team in Hyderabad. The GCC, managed by GSPANN, will initially employ 300+ professionals and play a pivotal role in driving IT services, infrastructure operations, application support, automation, and enterprise standardization across Carlsberg’s global markets. Anchored in India’s deep technology talent ecosystem, the centre reflects Carlsberg’s global strategy ‘Accelerate SAIL,’ focusing on speed, agility, innovation, and resilience.
Heineken: Tapping into India’s Tech Talent
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Brands: Heineken, Amstel, Tiger, Kingfisher (stake via United Breweries)
Heineken recently appointed Vineeth Suresh as the Head of its India Global Capability Centre (GCC), based in Hyderabad. This announcement comes shortly after the Dutch brewing giant confirmed the establishment of its Asia-Pacific-focused GCC in India, with a significant investment of ₹2,500–3,000 crore and plans to hire up to 3,000 professionals. Vineeth brings extensive leadership experience from previous roles at KPMG, Diageo, and Tesco, and will be instrumental in scaling the Hyderabad GCC into a critical digital and operations hub for Heineken globally.
The centre is expected to start operations by the end of 2025.
India — The New Global Taproom for Alcobev Innovation
These strategic moves reflect how the world’s leading alcobev companies are reimagining global operations through India’s technology, analytics, and innovation ecosystems. With digital supply chains, AI-led forecasting, and smart manufacturing shaping the next decade, India is fast becoming the new taproom where global transformation for the alcobev industry is being brewed.
Disclaimer: GCC Pulse does not promote or endorse the consumption of alcoholic beverages. This article is intended purely for informational and business insights into the Alcobev industry and its Global Capability Centers (GCCs) operating in India. Readers are reminded to consume alcohol responsibly and only in accordance with the legal drinking age and regulations applicable in their respective jurisdictions.
