Born in Hyderabad, Karan Bilimoria is a son of an Army General – Lt. General F.N. Bilimoria, PVSM, and ADC – a commander in Chief of the Central Indian Army. Armed with a business degree, Karan went to England when he was 19. Initially, his education was not well regarded when he intended to join The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He had to complete an accounting foundation course at the London Guildhall University to become eligible for registration as a student. He joined Ernst and Young as a trainee. In 1986, he qualified as a chartered accountant with the ICAEW. Later, he went to the Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University to study law. While he was studying law, he played polo. He captained Cambridge University’s Blues polo team.

This hobby turned out to be a launch pad into business. Initially, he started selling polo sticks (imported from India) to Harrods and Lilywhites. To run around, he used his battered Citroen 2CV. But that did not whet his appetite. Business opportunity came up in a different form. Ever since he went to UK, he hated the fizzy and gassy lager. It did not go well with the curry and the Indian food. A chance introduction with a brewer from Bangalore (who supplied to the Indian army) laid foundation for a fresh business opportunity. Karan wanted to sell Indian beer in England. Initially, he imported a deliberately less gassy, smoother lager from Bangalore. He christened the lager as ‘Cobra beer’ and sold it through Indian restaurants and grocers.

That was in the year 1989.  Initially, the going was not easy. England was in the midst of a harsh recession. Karan had a debt of £ 20,000 to cover. Financially, his enterprise had to depend on a bank overdraft and small business loans. Marketing and brand building costs were a big drag on the budding enterprise. However, what helped the enterprise click was the reason that the gassy and harsh Euro fizz beers did not go well with the spicy Indian curry. They were difficult to drink and reduced the excitement of visiting an Indian restaurant. Karan’s premium lager beer with a 5 % ABV and a full bodied 1046 degree gravity, turned out to be the ideal choice. First, the British Asians and later, the Britons started opting for the less gassy, smoother lager – Cobra beer. This gradual shift in beer drinking preference helped Cobra beer to grow rapidly. In the June 1997, Karan started brewing his beer in Bedford, UK.

During the years 1995 – 1998, sales of Cobra beer soared by 68.77%. In 1999-2000, his enterprise clocked a 52% growth in sales. About 90% of the Indian restaurants stock Cobra beer and offer it to their clients. In 12 years, Cobra beer became the fastest growing bear brand in the UK market. Cobra beer is available in 330 ml and 660 ml bottles. Karan also introduced the draught beer. Not content with the Indian restaurant market, Karan also started looking at other outlets – pubs, bars, nightclubs, supermarkets and off licence chains. Karan also introduced wines to his product line. Christened General Bilimoria wines, these complemented the Indian food, much like Cobra beer. Besides British market, Karan is exporting Cobra beer to a host of places.  

Besides wooing more Britons to drink Cobra beer, its taste won many other plaudits. One such is the 2001 gold award from the Monde Selection, Brussels.  

Though Cobra beer takes up most of his time, Karan does find time to indulge in polo, scuba diving and in expanding the concept of entreprenuerism. He often speaks to the young urging them to look forward towards fulfilling their goals. They can say that he has fulfilled his.