Brands
Spirit of expansion: AABL takes its premium portfolio to Jharkhand
MADHYA PRADESH: Associated Alcohols & Breweries Ltd (AABL) is going east. The Indore-based spirits maker has uncorked its premium portfolio in Jharkhand, bringing Nicobar Indian Dry Gin, Titanium Triple Distilled Vodka, and whiskeys Hillfort and Central Province to a state it reckons is ready for the good stuff.
The move, announced on 11 December, marks another notch in AABL’s strategy to colonise high-potential markets across India. Jharkhand, with its growing urban centres and rising disposable incomes, presents what the company calls “strong growth potential”—corporate speak for “people there want to drink better.”
“We are pleased to introduce our premium portfolio to the Jharkhand market,” says AABL managing director Prasann Kumar Kedia. “The launch marks another significant step in our strategy to expand our national footprint.”
The company is betting that Jharkhand’s “discerning customers” will develop a taste for its craft credentials. Nicobar’s dry gin aims to ride the juniper wave that’s swept urban India, whilst Titanium’s triple-distilled vodka promises the sort of smoothness that makes morning-after regrets slightly less painful. Meanwhile, Hillfort and Central Province target the whiskey drinkers who’ve outgrown the usual suspects.
AABL, which trades on the BSE (scrip code 507526) and NSE (symbol ASALCBR), has been systematically building its presence beyond its Madhya Pradesh heartland. The company operates from Khodigram in Khargone district, where it presumably distills the good stuff before dispatching it to new frontiers.
Whether Jharkhand develops a taste for premium spirits or sticks with the familiar remains to be seen. But AABL is clearly banking on eastern ambitions—one well-crafted tipple at a time.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
