Bunta Beer founder shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year

Gunikka Ahuja, founder of Bunta Beer, has been shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2026 Women in Beer Awards.

The nomination recognises Gunikka’s ambition to bring a fresh perspective to the UK beer industry. 

She founded Bunta in 2025 after leaving a successful career at Adidas in Los Angeles, where she worked in textile innovation.

Inspired by her Indian heritage and Britain’s much-loved “curry and a pint” tradition, Gunikka saw an opportunity to create a beer designed to complement Indian food. Bunta’s flagship citrus lager is brewed with orange peel and coriander seed. At 0.5% ABV, it is light, crisp and refreshing, and is also gluten-free and vegan.

Since launching, Bunta Beer has secured more than 100 listings across the UK, including more than 40 restaurants. Its venues include acclaimed restaurants Kricket, Jikoni, Pahli Hill and Bombay Bustle, as well as the Royal Albert Hall, Novotel, The Gladstone Arms and East West Pizza.

The brand’s first draught listing was at The Latimer in Notting Hill. Bunta is now poured at 60 accounts across London, with a distribution partnership with Champers Drinks supporting further growth in the capital and South East.

The company reports 40% year-on-year growth, as interest grows in premium alcohol-free beers made with food and flavour in mind. For Gunikka, winning the confidence of respected hospitality operators has helped show that diners are looking for more thoughtful choices than a standard alcohol-free lager.

Her plans reach beyond the beer, too. Drawing on her textile innovation background, she is developing Buntatex™, a concept exploring how brewing by-products could be turned into biodegradable textiles and packaging.

Gunikka said: “I started Bunta Beer because I saw an opportunity to create something different, a beer that celebrates my Indian heritage while bringing a fresh perspective to the UK drinks industry.

“Seeing Bunta listed in restaurants, pubs and hospitality venues across the country has been one of the most rewarding parts. It’s exciting to see operators embracing a different approach to alcohol-free beer, one that’s focused on flavour, food and the overall drinking experience.”

The Women in Beer Awards celebrate women’s achievements across the brewing and beer industries. The 2026 winners are due to be announced at the awards ceremony on 20 October.

Founded in 2025, Bunta Beer is on a mission to rethink how beer can pair with Indian food. Find out more at buntabeer.com.