AB InBev to invest US$7M in US brewery  

USA – AB InBev, the world’s largest brewing company, is set to invest US$7 million in its Fairfield brewery in California.  

This funding will support capital infrastructure projects aimed at ongoing improvements at the facility, including updates to roofing, equipment overhauls, new lighting, and other structural repairs. 

Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch, said, “These investments in our Fairfield brewery strengthen capabilities across our entire business to ensure our northern California facility continues to brew the great-tasting, high-quality products that have satisfied drinkers for generations.” 

The Fairfield site, spanning 170 acres, brews more than 20 of Anheuser-Busch’s brands, including Budweiser beer. Notably, the facility has a 99 percent recycling rate and sources 30 percent of its electricity from a wind turbine and 6,500 solar panels located at the brewery. 

Nathan Murphy, general manager at the Fairfield Brewery, commented: “The ongoing investment in our facility and upgrades to our infrastructure will continue to support the capabilities at our brewery and position our team to continue to produce the highest-quality beer nationwide.” 

Over the past five years, Anheuser-Busch has invested nearly US$2 billion in its facilities across the country. These investments help create and sustain jobs, driving economic prosperity in the communities where it operates and where its employees live.  

Anheuser-Busch operates more than 120 facilities across the United States, including flagship and regional craft breweries and agricultural facilities across 24 states.  

Lance Hastings, President and CEO of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), highlighted: “Through this financial commitment for the future, they’re not only revitalizing their infrastructure; they’re also reinforcing Fairfield’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of their business.” 

This latest investment follows Anheuser-Busch’s US$15.5 million upgrade of its Fort Collins, Colorado, brewery in May this year.  

The investment was used to upgrade bottling lines from packed to bulk glass, enabling the brewery to streamline production in-house, strengthening its supply chain, reducing emissions, and driving efficiencies across the business. 

The investment comes despite the brewer recording a decline in US sales volume during the first quarter of 2024. In the three months to the end of March, AB InBev’s volumes in North America fell by 9.9 percent on an organic basis.  

First-quarter revenue from the brewer’s North American operations was down 8.8 percent organically atUS$3.56 billion.  

In the US specifically, AB InBev’s revenue declined 9.1 percent, although the Budweiser owner said revenue per hectolitre was up 1.1 percent “driven by revenue management initiatives.” 

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