An alkaline battery is made by press-fitting a plurality of tubular positive electrode pellets inside of an open end of a cylindrical positive electrode can. The press-fitting is performed in such a manner as to stack the positive electrode pellets coaxially inside of and in contact with the positive electrode can, with gaps between adjacent positive electrode pellets. A separator is disposed inside of the tubular pellets, and a negative electrode mixture is placed inside of the separator. A negative electrode current collector is inserted into the negative electrode mixture, and the opening at the open end of the positive electrode can is sealed with a negative electrode terminal plate.