Anheuser-Busch: $2bn investment in American brewing
This year, around $500m will be invested, with over $200m going to brewery and distribution projects; $180m for product packaging and innovation initiatives; and $58m on sustainability measures.
Anheuser-Busch will invest $2bn through 2020, with investments from 2011-2020 now totalling $4.5bn.
“The new capital expenditure program will expand Anheuser-Busch’s US operations, bolster local and state economies, and support over 17,000 jobs in the US,” says the company.
“It will help drive forward our growth strategy, including through new and innovative collaborations with companies like Teavana.”
Anheuser-Busch is the US arm of AB InBev and operates 21 local breweries, 21 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the US.
Its top brands include Budweiser and Bud Light.
Key investments in the new capital expenditure program:
- $82m on nationwide supply chain operations and new distribution facilities in Los Angeles & Columbus.
- $28m at the Fort Collins brewery to expand production of aluminum bottle products; and increase diversity of products through installation of dry hop capabilities.
- $1m at the Williamsburg brewery on new technology and equipment, and the installation of new labeling machines.
- $15m to begin ‘innovative cross brewing capabilities’ at the Fairfield brewery through Elysian partnership, including updates to brewery infrastructure.
- $12m for the Cartersville brewery to install a new multi-packer, as well as new programming and metering devices to increase energy efficiency.
- $13m to the St. Louis brewery, including updates to the beechwood-aging tanks and initiatives for production of new brands, as well as investments to increase sustainability.
- $11m to expand aluminum bottling capabilities at the Jacksonville brewery, as well as upgrades to improve energy efficiency.
- $11m to begin innovative cross brewing capabilities at the Merrimack brewery alongside craft partners.
- $10m in investments at the Los Angeles brewery to add water efficiency and treatment capabilities.
- $10m to the Baldwinsville brewery to increase production of non-alcoholic product offerings, mainly Teavana, and to install a new multi-packer.
- $8m to the Houston brewery to begin brewing Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus; and to expand aluminum bottle production.
- $7m to the Columbus brewery for projects to conserve resources and to develop and integrate new products.
