Asahi Beer USA installs high-speed bottling line in US$35M US expansion
The new bottling system will produce up to 20,000 bottles per hour and expand local packaging capacity for Asahi Super Dry and other beverage brands.
USA – Asahi Beer USA has installed a high-speed bottling line at its Octopi facility in Waunakee, Wisconsin, as part of a US$35 million investment to expand domestic production and packaging capacity.
The new system can produce up to 20,000 bottles per hour and was installed through an equipment build-out involving nearly 90 containers. It will support domestic production of Asahi Super Dry and provide bottling services for Octopi’s co-manufacturing customers.
Asahi Beer USA said the installation reinforces Octopi’s position as a leading co-manufacturing partner for beverage brands scaling across formats and retail channels.
The company added: “At a time when many beverage producers are consolidating around cans, this investment reflects a deliberate strategy to support continued demand for bottled formats among super-premium, international, and multi-format brands.”
Asahi acquired the Octopi contract brewing business two years ago, enabling the Japanese group to brew Asahi Super Dry in the US. Octopi provides co-manufacturing services across beer, ready-to-drink cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, hard seltzers, functional drinks and energy beverages.
“Asahi Super Dry is one of the fastest-growing beer brands in the USA across bottles, cans and kegs,” said Paul Verdu, managing director of Asahi Beer USA.
“By investing in a high-speed bottling line alongside our existing canning and kegging capabilities, we are now localising supply across all core pack formats, reducing reliance on ocean freight and ensuring the freshest product possible to our customers and consumers,” Verdu added.
The new line will produce several “key Asahi Super Dry formats”, including 12-ounce six-pack bottles and 21-ounce 12-pack bottles. These formats are scheduled to launch in the US from mid-September.
Asahi announced the appointment of Verdu to lead its US business in March last year, alongside the US$35 million investment plan. The company said the investment has also supported “new brewing equipment and processes” and the “maximisation of the existing square footage to include new safety and quality control equipment”.
The new bottling line complements Asahi Beer USA’s canning and kegging operations at Octopi and expands domestic packaging capacity for Asahi Super Dry.
Separately, Asahi Beverages has appointed Brian Phan to the expanded role of Chief Commercial Officer. The role combines the company’s Commercial and Growth functions to respond to changes in the beverages market and provide more growth opportunities for customers.
Phan previously served as Asahi Beverages’ Chief Growth Officer for five years, overseeing marketing, innovation and disruption, strategy, insights and the company’s in-house agency, 1House.
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