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Pernod Ricard India Restructuring Cuts At Least 200 Jobs
Pernod Ricard makes alcoholic drinks and has changed how its India business is organized.
At least 200 people have left or been asked to leave over two years.
The company now has about 1,400 employees in India.
Some departing workers say they were given unexpected poor reviews or performance plans.
They also say some people felt pressured to accept severance payments.
The company says it regularly reviews its organization to remain competitive and support its long-term plans.
These job cuts are happening even though India is one of Pernod Ricard’s strongest markets.
The company’s India sales and profit both increased in the reported financial periods.
Some former employees are considering or pursuing legal action over their exits.
Pernod Ricard India has recorded at least 200 employee exits over two years, reducing headcount to about 1,400.
At least 50 mid-to-senior managers were asked to leave between January and July 2026, with another 20 to 30 exits expected by March 2027.
The restructuring has affected senior leaders in operations, marketing, human resources and supply chain, alongside wider executive turnover.
Former employees allege sudden performance plans, withheld bonuses and pressure to accept severance packages, while the company says it is strengthening its long-term competitiveness.
India remains a strong market for Pernod Ricard, with organic net sales up 7% year on year and FY25 net profit reaching ₹1,754.5 crore.
- Who
- Pernod Ricard India, its employees and former senior executives.
- What
- The company is carrying out an operational restructuring involving at least 200 exits and significant management turnover.
- Where
- Pernod Ricard’s India operations.
- When
- The exits occurred over the past two years; at least 50 departures were reported between January and July 2026, with another 20 to 30 expected between December 2026 and March 2027.
- Why
- People familiar with the matter linked the changes to a global restructuring and efforts to reshape costs and focus on higher-return categories; the company said it was assessing its organization to stay competitive.
Former Employees’ Allegations
Company’s Restructuring Rationale
Reason for departures
Former Employees’ Allegations
Former employees alleged that the company used sudden poor performance reviews, performance-improvement plans and remediation plans to push people out, even after years of strong performance.
Company’s Restructuring Rationale
Pernod Ricard India said it continuously assesses its organization and ways of working to remain competitive and deliver on business priorities.
Business conditions
Former Employees’ Allegations
Employees questioned why layoffs were occurring while India was delivering strong sales and profit growth and said the changes involved repeated reorganizations and lower-cost replacements.
Company’s Restructuring Rationale
People familiar with the matter said the cuts appeared linked partly to a global restructuring and to reshaping the business and cost structure, rather than simply responding to weak demand.
Exit process
Former Employees’ Allegations
Some former employees said they received no clear explanation, had bonuses withheld or felt compelled to accept severance packages because they feared losing relieving letters or experience certificates; at least two have considered or initiated legal action.
Company’s Restructuring Rationale
The company said it operates with fairness and respect and makes decisions thoughtfully to strengthen the business over the long term.
Key facts
- Current India headcount
- About 1,400 employees after the reported exits.
- Reported exits
- At least 200 employees over two years, excluding about 100 transferred to Tilaknagar Industries after the Imperial Blue acquisition.
- Planned management departures
- At least 50 mid-to-senior employees were asked to leave between January and July 2026; another 20 to 30 were expected to exit between December 2026 and March 2027.
- India sales performance
- Organic net sales grew 7% year on year, or 9% excluding Imperial Blue, according to the latest investor presentation.
- India market position
- India contributed 13% of Pernod Ricard’s total net sales and was described as its second-largest market.
- FY25 operating income
- ₹27,445.8 crore, up from ₹26,771 crore in FY24, according to data sourced from Tofler.
- FY25 net profit
- ₹1,754.5 crore, up 9.4% from ₹1,604 crore in FY24.
Quotes
Former Pernod Ricard India executive
Former senior executive who described the restructuring and exit process
“We see an accelerated performance, underpinned by dynamic consumer demand, market share gains, further benefiting from the Imperial Blue disposal, which was less dynamic than the more premium segments,”
livemint.com
“As any company operating in a dynamic and evolving market, we continuously assess our organisation and ways of working to ensure we remain well positioned to deliver on our business priorities,”
livemint.com
Sources
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