Lucky Buddha Beer – the Asian-brewed lager known for its iconic Laughing Buddha-shaped bottle – is making its Tesco debut, across 450 stores and online.
Building on almost a decade of strong performance in the UK on-trade, Lucky Buddha has become a fixture in Asian-fusion restaurants, casual dining venues and bars, expanding incrementally across the hospitality sector.
With Lucky Buddha now launching in Tesco in selected stores and online, Lucky Buddha enters the supermarket sector following a period of strong brand growth. Over the past 12 months, the brand has delivered 103% volume growth and is now poured in around 350 on-trade outlets through LWC’s wholesale channel alone, underlining the scale and recognition the brand has built ahead of its move into national grocery.
Brewed and bottled in China using malted barley, Qingdao hops, rice flakes and water from the ‘Thousand Island’ Lake, Lucky Buddha is a 4.8% ABV lager with a crisp profile and subtle notes of honey and malt. The beer is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian drinkers.
The brand’s distinctive designed green bottle, shaped in the image of Budai – the smiling monk associated with happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture – has long been a talking point in hospitality. More recently, it has gained traction online, with consumers repurposing the bottle into decorative items, amplifying awareness and reinforcing its distinct identity.
Lee Williams, beer & cider category manager at LWC Drinks, Lucky Buddha’s exclusive UK distributor, said: “This listing marks a major step forward for Lucky Buddha. The brand has spent a decade building a strong reputation in the on trade, underpinned by consistent quality, clear provenance and growing distribution. The launch into Tesco gives Lucky Buddha national grocery scale for the first time.
“The beer itself is an easy drinking, well balanced lager that has earned its place in bars and restaurants, while the distinctive bottle helps it stand out and be remembered. Together, that combination of liquid quality, authenticity and shelf presence gives Tesco customers something genuinely different and gives the brand a strong platform to grow in grocery.”
Lucky Buddha will be available in selected Tesco stores and online week commencing 20th April, in 330ml bottles (£2.75), supported by the Clubcard price of three for £6.50.
