Indian Whisky Enters UK Airport Duty-Free Market Radico Khaitan Limited has become the first Indian spirits company to secure shelf space across four major UK airports, as its premium brands Rampur and Sangam now stock duty-free shops at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. The move represents a significant expansion of the company's Global Travel Retail (GTR) strategy. The portfolio includes Rampur Indian Single Malt Double Cask, Rampur Asava, Rampur Barrel Blush, and Sangam World Malt. These four airports collectively handled over 170 million passengers in 2025, according to data cited in the announcement. Heathrow processed approximately 84.5 million passengers, while Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham handled 42.8 million, 32.1 million, and 13.7 million passengers, respectively.
Strong Premium Growth Fuels Expansion The expansion comes amid strong performance in Radico Khaitan's premium and luxury segment. In fiscal year 2026, the company's Prestige & Above portfolio contributed 70.3% of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) value. In Q1 FY27, the company reported its highest-ever quarterly performance, with the Prestige & above portfolio growing 36%. Managing Director Abhishek Khaitan said: "Our international ambition is not simply about increasing the number of airports in which we operate. It is about building meaningful brand presence and ensuring that Indian spirits are experienced in the right environments, by consumers who appreciate provenance, craftsmanship and distinctive character. This entry is an important milestone in our journey to take Indian luxury to the world. Global Travel Retail gives us the opportunity to connect with consumers from different parts of the world and showcase the depth, diversity and evolving quality of Indian spirits." Sanjeev Banga, President – International Business, added: "There is a certain charm in taking Indian whisky to the home of Scotch whisky. We are not asking the world to choose between Scotch and Indian whisky. We are simply making sure that Indian whisky gets a seat at the table, and perhaps a place on the airport shelf as well. This is an exciting opportunity to show travellers that the world of whisky has room for more than one accent, and this time, the accent is unmistakably Indian."
Scaling Travel Retail Presence Radico Khaitan currently operates across more than 65 duty-free locations globally and is targeting expansion to over 100 locations. The company's FY26 financial performance showed net revenue of approximately ₹6,050 crore, with IMFL volumes up 22% to 38.3 million cases. Rampur Indian Single Malt is produced at the Rampur Distillery, established in 1943, and sources its character from the Himalayan foothills' climate. The Sangam World Malt complements the portfolio as part of the company's strategy to build a diversified range of Indian luxury spirits for international consumers.
Why It Matters
For hospitality and travel retail operators, this distribution milestone signals growing international demand for Indian spirits beyond traditional markets. It demonstrates the competitive positioning of Indian single malts in premium global channels and suggests shifting consumer openness to non-Scotch whisky options in key travel hubs.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
