250 Bira 91 Employees Demand Founder Ankur Jain’s Resignation Amid Financial Woes

Permalink: /bira91-employees-demand-founder-resignation-2025 Meta Description: Over 250 Bira 91 employees have called for founder Ankur Jain’s resignation in 2025, citing unpaid salaries and financial mismanagement. Explore the crisis, its causes, and implications for India’s craft beer industry.

Introduction

In a dramatic escalation of internal unrest, over 250 employees of Bira 91, a leading Indian craft beer brand, have demanded the resignation of founder and CEO Ankur Jain in September 2025, citing unpaid salaries, financial mismanagement, and operational chaos. The Delhi-based brewery, known for its rapid rise in India’s craft beer market, faces a crisis as employees report months of delayed payments and a lack of transparency from leadership. This article delves into the details of the employee revolt, the underlying issues at Bira 91, and its broader impact on India’s beverage sector. The Economic Times

The Employee Uprising: Key Details

The demand for Ankur Jain’s resignation emerged from a collective action by employees across Bira 91’s operations, including manufacturing, sales, and marketing teams. Key points include:

• Scale of Protest: Over 250 of Bira 91’s 600+ employees signed a petition calling for Jain’s exit, citing unpaid salaries for up to four months in 2025.
• Financial Distress: The company has struggled to pay vendors and employees, with reports of delayed statutory dues and operational funding gaps.
• Employee Grievances: Workers allege a lack of communication from Jain, with no clear plan to resolve the crisis, eroding trust in leadership.
• Union Action: The petition, backed by a newly formed employee union, also demands immediate salary disbursements and a financial audit.

This follows Bira 91’s earlier struggles, including a reported $50 million debt raise in 2024 to stabilize operations amid post-COVID challenges.

Causes of the Crisis at Bira 91

Bira 91’s financial and operational turmoil stems from multiple factors:

• Post-COVID Recovery Struggles: The craft beer market faced supply chain disruptions and reduced on-premise sales during 2020-2022, impacting Bira’s revenue.
• High Operating Costs: Aggressive expansion, including new breweries and international markets, strained cash flows without proportional returns.
• Funding Challenges: Despite raising $200 million from investors like Sequoia and Kirin since 2015, Bira has struggled to secure fresh equity in a tightening VC market.
• Leadership Criticism: Employees accuse Jain of prioritizing branding over financial discipline, leading to unsustainable growth strategies.

The company’s valuation, once pegged at $750 million in 2022, has reportedly halved, reflecting investor concerns.

Implications for Bira 91 and India’s Craft Beer Sector

The employee revolt has far-reaching consequences:

1. Brand Damage: The public fallout risks eroding consumer trust in Bira 91, a pioneer in India’s $500 million craft beer market.
2. Employee Morale: Unpaid salaries and leadership distrust could trigger talent exodus, hampering operations.
3. Industry Ripple Effects: The crisis may deter investors from backing other Indian craft beer startups, slowing sector growth.
4. Regulatory Scrutiny: Delayed statutory dues could attract government audits, adding pressure.

The Bigger Picture: Challenges in India’s Beverage Industry

Bira 91’s woes reflect broader challenges in India’s consumer goods sector, where high costs and regulatory hurdles strain startups. Amid 2025’s economic trends—115% festive e-commerce surge, SpaceFields’ ₹42 crore raise—Bira’s crisis highlights the fragility of scaling without financial discipline. Globally, it parallels FedEx’s $1B tariff hit and contrasts with resilient models like BlackRock’s $260M ETF revenue.

What’s Next for Bira 91?

Key developments to monitor:

• Jain’s response to the petition and potential leadership changes by Q4 2025.
• Efforts to secure emergency funding or debt restructuring.
• Resolution of salary and vendor payments to stabilize operations.
• Impact on Bira’s market share as competitors like BrewDog India gain traction.

Conclusion

The demand by 250 Bira 91 employees for Ankur Jain’s resignation in 2025 underscores a critical financial and leadership crisis at the craft beer giant. With unpaid salaries and operational strain threatening its legacy, Bira faces a pivotal moment to restore trust and stability. As India’s craft beer market evolves, Bira’s next steps will shape its survival.