AB INBEV INDIA'S ‘100+ CHALLENGE’ ATTRACTS TOP TALENT

 by Priya Jadhav

Over 13,000 students from 30+ esteemed Indian colleges participated in this edition

·         The winning team from IIM Calcutta won a cash prize of INR 5 lakhs, while the first runner-up from XLRI received INR 3 lakhs, and the second runner-up from SPJIMR won INR 2 lakhs

·         All the winning teams received an opportunity for a Pre-Placement Interview (PPI)

·         The ‘100+ challenge’ is an initiative designed to find and nurture bright minds to work on innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions for the most pressing challenges of today

·         AB InBev India is committed to helping emerging talent develop their skills by providing unparalleled learning opportunities, mentorship, and hands-on experience through our various talent programs.

Bengaluru, 12 September 2023: AB InBev India, the leading beer and beverage company, has marked a significant milestone with the culmination of its groundbreaking talent attraction initiative, the ‘100+ Challenge’. The ‘100+ Challenge’ was designed to unearth and nurture the sharpest minds capable of devising innovative and sustainable solutions to our community’s most pressing problems. The Grand Finale, held at AB InBev India’s HQ in Bengaluru last month, was attended by eminent jury members, including Independent Management Consultant Rama Bijapurkar, top leadership from AB InBev India and Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC. The winning team, UK1507 from IIM Calcutta, was felicitated at the event.

Sharing more details about the program, Tanvi Rohatgi, People Director, AB InBev India, said, “At AB InBev India, we strongly believe that our commitment to nurturing talent goes beyond recruitment – it’s about fostering a culture of innovation and empowerment. The 100+ Challenge is an example of this philosophy in action. The program encourages students to use their imagination to change the world by providing a platform for bold, curious, and ambitious minds to channel their creativity into solving real-world challenges. We’re thrilled at the response to this initiative and look forward to continuing to shape the leaders of tomorrow. We’re attracting talent and cultivating a community of forward-thinkers who will drive transformative change and shape a better future for our industry and society.” 

The challenge attracted aspiring students from 30+ top universities, inviting innovative, sustainable solutions to pressing issues. Open to pre-final year and final year undergraduates and postgraduates spanning various disciplines, participants were tasked to “Create a new brand (beer/non-alcoholic beverage/alcoholic beverage) for AB InBev that uses local ingredients available in India that positively impacts the environment and communities”. 

The winning team from IIM Calcutta presented a zero-sugar, zero-calorie sparkling water that aims to be carbon-negative, source micronutrients naturally, use smart water sourcing, and recycle cans for environmental benefits. Their victory secured them pre-placement opportunities at AB InBev India, an INR 5 lakh cash prize and access to AB InBev India's sponsored events. Xavier School of Management and S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research teams became the first and second runners-up. 

At AB InBev India, innovation stands as a cornerstone of success. The leading brewer is dedicated to identifying the brightest minds and providing them with an environment conducive to innovation and nurturing potential. Programs like the '100+ Challenge' are a prime example of this approach, establishing pathways for emerging talents to refine their skills, partake in collaborative innovation, and drive constructive transformation. 

The company’s visionary talent programs across Sales and Marketing, Supply chain and other functions offer graduates the necessary training and the opportunity to be part of key business projects across different functions, rooted in our commitment to honing the leaders of tomorrow. 

AB InBev India’s unyielding dedication to cultivating a culture marked by empowerment and advancement reflects its belief that talent is paramount in shaping the trajectory of the beer sector and beyond. 

To watch the grand finale of the 100+ Challenge, click here. 

About AB InBev India: AB InBev India is a leading beer and beverage company with a leadership position in the premium and super premium beer category. It has a diverse portfolio of global beer brands, including Budweiser®, Budweiser Magnum®, Corona®, Hoegaarden®, Stella Artois®, Beck’s Ice®, Haywards5000® and KnockOut®, amongst others. Headquartered in Bengaluru, its national presence is supported by multiple manufacturing units spread across states and a robust distribution network. AB InBev India has a range of no-alcohol beers like Budweiser 0.0®️, Hoegaarden 0.0®️, and Hoegaarden Rosée®️ and expanded Beyond Beer into new categories with non-alcoholic energy drink Budweiser Beats®️, the whiskey category with Budweiser Magnum Double Barrel®️ and D’YAVOL vodka in partnership with SLAB ventures and Aryan Khan. AB InBev India is part of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC (Bud APAC), listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "1876". Bud APAC is a subsidiary of AB InBev, with over 600 years of brewing heritage and an extensive global presence spanning continents and generations. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, AB InBev leverages the collective strength of approximately 169,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Explore more on - www.ab-inbev.com.