Critical
Product before brand, a cautionary swig
B9 Beverages' collapse illustrates how strong branding cannot compensate for weak business fundamentals. Bira craft beer, once celebrated, faltered due to aggressive expansion, rising costs, supply disruptions, and mounting losses. The text emphasizes disciplined execution, financial prudence, and product availability are crucial for sustaining consumer brands. It highlights that buzz must yield to business realities. With net worth eroded and liabilities exceeding assets, Bira's story is a stark reminder: a product makes a brand, not the other way around, offering a sobering lesson on entrepreneurship.
Economic Times · ET Bureau · Aug 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM