Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, says it will invest nearly $500 million in 2017 and $2 billion in improvements through 2020 across the country. "This is among the largest ever capital investment programs in U.S. brewing history," the company stated. The 2017 investments include: more than $200 million for brewery and distribution projects; $180 million for product packaging and innovation initiatives; and $58 million to improve and increase sustainability at its facilities.
The May 15th announcement is the company's next step in a period of extensive, ongoing investments totaling $4.5 billion from 2011 to 2020.
The capital expenditure program will expand Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. operations, bolster local and state economies and support more than 17,000 U.S. jobs. It will also help drive forward the company’s growth strategy, including through new and innovative collaborations with companies like Teavana, A-B said.
"Since Anheuser-Busch was founded 165 years ago, our company has been deeply rooted in America’s economic and cultural life. Our love of great beer and bringing people together is part of the American story," said João Castro Neves, president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch. "We are making these investments in our business, and the communities where we live and work, for the next 165 years."
"We are focusing on investments which empower our employees to do what they do best – brewing the best beer,” added Dave Taylor, vice president of supply. "Ninety-eight percent of the beer we sell in America is proudly made here at our 21 breweries using the highest quality ingredients."
Other individual expenditures include $82 million to enhance nationwide supply chain operations and to build new, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in Los Angeles and Columbus. Anheuser-Busch will also upgrade a brewery in Fort Collins, Colo. with $28 million to expand production of popular aluminum bottle products and increase diversity of products through installation of dry hop capabilities.
