AB InBev and Keurig announce R&D joint venture for in-home alcohol drink system
The joint venture between the world’s largest brewer and the beverage system company will build on Keurig KOLD technology as well as using AB InBev’s brewing and packaging expertise.
Keurig KOLD, an in-home machine for cold sparkling and still non-alcoholic beverages, was launched in September 2015 but discontinued less than a year later.
Focusing on North America, the companies say the joint venture for researching and developing an in-home alcohol drink system will evolve across the alcoholic beverage category to include beer, spirits, cocktails and mixers.
The initiative will be based in Massachusetts and Vermont and employees will come from both AB InBev and Keurig.
The joint venture comes at a time where consumers are showing growing interest in personalization, customization, and the at-home experience. A number of systems in the market are seeking to tap into these trends in the non-alcoholic beverage category, such as Keurig’s systems across hot beverages, Nespresso coffee, and SodaStream’s sparkling water makers. However, the AB InBev and Keurig partnership will turn its attention to the alcoholic beverage category.
Last week Pernod Ricard also announced its intention to focus more on the at-home experience for drinkers, showcasing its Opn System in Las Vegas. Heralded by Pernod Ricard as ‘the world’s first connected cocktail library’, the Opn system is an intelligent system devised to enhance the drinking experience through a holistic, user-friendly ecosystem of devices, applications and services.
AB InBev is the world’s largest brewer, with beer brands such as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and Leffe. Keurig Green Mountain is an American beverage system company.
