Ebooks for the Classroom+Faculty

Against the Grain : Lessons in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Cobra Beer
ISBN: 9781906465483
Platform/Publisher: Ebook Central / John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Limited; Download: 7 Days at a Time
Subjects: Economics; Business/ Management;

'Every bit as good as the beer itself.' Sir Richard Branson

From selling the first cases of Cobra out of the back of a battered old Citroen 2CV along the streets of West London to exporting to over 40 countries around the world, Karan Bilimoria's vision of a less gassy beer has travelled a long way.

Starting out with a heap of student debt, a complete lack of industry experience and parents desperate for their son to get a proper job, it could all so easily have gone wrong. But Karan's single-minded determination to succeed and his ability to inspire those around him to buy into his vision, turned Cobra, sip-by-sip, into the multi-million pound business it is today. Karan's story bottles the very essence of entrepreneurship: vision, drive, creativity and a relentless battle against all odds, to make the idea you so passionately believe in work.

Against the Grain is packed with insights into finance, strategy, planning, luck, discipline, and generally doing the unexpected to build your own business, from someone who's been there and done it... and all with just a little less gas.

'Essential reading.' Richard Reed, Co-founder, Innocent Drinks

'An inspirational story.' Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer WPP

'Karan Bilimoria is one of the great entrepreneurs...' Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone

'Inspiring! ... worth the cover price for the "Financing Cobra" chapter alone.' Professor John Mullins, London Business School

'... His story should inspire youth everywhere who are fired by the dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.' Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group

Karan Bilimoria , ACA, DBE, DL is an entrepreneur and Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea . After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in law, Bilimoria first worked as a chartered accountant at Ernst & Young and then as sales & marketing director at European accounting focus magazine. But Bilimoria had a vision: he wanted to produce a premium quality lager brewed to appeal to ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike, that was less gassy that the brands available in the UK. At the age of 27 years old, with £20,000 of student debt, Bilimoria founded Cobra Beer.
Since 1989 Karan has expanded his product range to include General Bilimoria Wines in 1999, and has founded Tandoori magazine and curryzone.com. His company is now valued at over £126 million and he has launched Cobra in India for the first time. In 2008 Cobra Beer was made available as draft and bottled beer in pubs across the UK. His expansion plans for the future remain ambitious and on track.
Karan is a member of the government's national employment panel, and is chairman of its SME board. He is vice chairman of the London chamber of commerce and the industry's Asian business association. In 2008 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the president of India, in honor of his exceptional contribution to his profession.