US – Anheuser-Busch, a wholly owned subsidiary of Belgium multinational drink and brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev, has announced an investment of more than US$1 billion over the next two years in its facilities and communities across the US.
With its investment, the brewer is looking to drive economic prosperity in communities where it operates across the US, strengthen its connections with consumers and support the more than 2.1 million jobs related to the beer industry.
The capital expenditure programme across 26 states will be used to expand its operations – in particular its hard seltzer production – support ongoing industry job creation and sustainable innovations.
“We need to build more seltzer capacity so we can attend the demand from consumers, which is a growing demand,” Anheuser-Busch CEO Michel Doukeris told Reuters, adding that the company’s new Michelob Ultra organic seltzer also requires “huge” investment.
As part of the US$1 billion investment, Anheuser-Busch is committing nearly US$100 million towards sustainability projects including solar panel instalments, water treatments and other similar initiatives.
According to the Reuters report, nearly US$400 million will be injected into 12 of Anheuser-Busch’s major breweries, while more than US$100 million will go towards new can manufacturing lines to meet demand for single-serve cans.
Anheuser-Busch’s announcement could not have come at a better time than this. The country’s economy having been extensively battered by the Covid-19 pandemic is in dire need of new capital injections to revive the economy.
With more than 120 facilities across 27 states, Anheuser-Busch is a major player in the US economy and its investment will have an impact on a millions of Americans across the country.
“We are committed to protecting peoples’ livelihoods across our entire supply chain – from farmers and bartenders to truck drivers and team members in our own facilities,” said Dave Taylor, US chief supply officer at Anheuser-Busch.
“By investing in these communities and their capabilities, we’re ensuring that together, with all of our partners, we can brew and deliver great beer for many years to come.”
Anheuser-Busch says it supports the US agricultural community, sourcing the majority of its ingredients from more than 900 American farms.
Last year, Anheuser-Busch Foundation committed US$530,000 to four US land grant universities to advance sustainable agricultural practices.
The company has also announced its support towards the recovery of the bar and restaurant industry through various donations.
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