Bunta Beer secures Champers Drinks distribution to accelerate UK expansion across on-trade

Bunta Beer, the UK’s first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer brewed specifically to pair with Indian cuisine, has secured a new distribution partnership with Champers Drinks, marking a major step in the brand’s rapid expansion across the UK hospitality sector.

The agreement will see Champers Drinks distribute Bunta Beer across London and the South East, increasing availability in pubs, restaurants, hotels and specialist retailers as demand accelerates for premium alcohol-free beers designed for flavour-led dining occasions.

Occasion-led drinking - a gap in the market that needed filling

At its core, Bunta Beer was created to solve a simple but overlooked problem: how beer pairs with modern Indian food. The brand exists to elevate the long-standing “curry and a pint” ritual by offering a beer designed specifically for spice-led cuisine rather than traditional lager styles that often overpower it.

Since launching in 2025, Bunta Beer has secured more than 100 UK listings across leading venues including Kricket, Oudh 1722, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, Aspen & Meursault, East West Pizza, DELLI, Wise Bartender, The Alcohol Free Company, Vintopia Wine, Londis N16 and the Royal Albert Hall. The brand was also awarded Gold at the 2026 London Beer Competition.

Commenting on the partnership, Kilesh Patel, Managing Director at Champers Drinks, said:

“Bunta fills a genuine gap in the market. We are seeing increasing demand from restaurants and premium hospitality venues for alcohol-free beers that have a clear point of difference. Rather than simply being another lager, Bunta has been developed specifically to pair with Indian food and complement spice and heat, which makes it a compelling proposition for our customers. Gunikka has built a brand with a fantastic story, outstanding product quality and strong consumer appeal, and we're excited to help accelerate its growth across the UK.”

Champers Drinks is a leading independent drinks wholesaler with strong reach across London and the South of England, offering a broad portfolio designed to support hospitality operators with a wide range of premium beverage solutions.

From a $100k Adidas role to the brewing industry

BUNTA BEER was founded by Gunikka Ahuja, who left a six-figure career as a Textile Innovation Manager at Adidas in Los Angeles to build a beer brand inspired by the UK’s “curry and a pint” culture.

Born and raised in New Delhi, Ahuja moved to Los Angeles at 17 to study Textile Technology before building a career in innovation. Regular visits to London revealed a disconnect between the evolution of Indian cuisine and the beers typically served alongside it.

“The food had evolved, but the beer hadn't,” says Ahuja. “Whether I was eating at Brick Lane curry houses or modern Indian restaurants pushing the cuisine forward, I kept finding the same experience. The beers were harsh, overly bitter, heavy and gassy. Before I'd even started eating, I’d switched to a soft drink.”

The turning point came during a conversation with her brother, who said simply: “Our food deserves better.”

Brewed for Indian food

Bunta’s flagship 0.5% Citrus Lager has been developed through more than 50 iterations specifically for pairing with Indian cuisine. The beer delivers a light, crisp profile with subtle citrus notes from orange peel and a hint of coriander seed - ingredients chosen to reflect flavour compounds found in Indian cooking.

Lower carbonation helps reduce heaviness and bloating, while the flavour profile is designed to cut through spice, cleanse the palate, and complement dishes ranging from creamy kormas to fiery vindaloos.

The beer is vegan, gluten-free (less than 20ppm), and contains just 60 calories per 330ml can.

A new expression of modern Indian identity

Bunta’s identity reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indian heritage is expressed globally. The brand name references “Bunta,” inspired by traditional codd-neck bottles used for India’s Banta Soda, while its distinctive pink can features a stylised character based on Ahuja’s brother.

“The character represents a new generation of drinkers who don’t feel the need to drink alcohol to be part of the moment,” Ahuja explains. “It could be anyone you see in Shoreditch or Brixton — culturally rooted, making different choices.”

Strong early growth across the UK

Since launch in August 2025, Bunta Beer has built strong early traction and is now available in more than 40 restaurants across the UK, on draught in selected venues, and through a growing direct-to-consumer platform. The brand has also gained significant organic momentum via social media, where hospitality buyers increasingly discover and engage with the product directly.

Women on Tap recently reported that over a third of women make beer, but only 7% of brewers are women.

ENDS

Trade Enquiries

Riddhi Patel, Champers Drinks

About Bunta Beer

BUNTA BEER is the UK’s first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer, created to pair specifically with Indian cuisine. Founded in 2025 by Gunikka Ahuja, the brand sits at the intersection of food, culture and modern British identity, combining flavour innovation with a growing focus on sustainability and circular design.

About Champers Drinks

Champers Drinks is a leading independent UK drinks wholesaler with strong distribution reach across London and the South of England. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of premium wines, beers, spirits and alcohol-free beverages, supporting hospitality venues with high-quality, commercially relevant brands.