$80m plant investment will boost beverage can production – Anheuser-Busch
The facility, which produces aluminium cans for Anheuser-Busch products and soft-drink makers across the US, will add approximately 100,000 square feet to the production areas and warehouse at the Arnold, Missouri-based facility.
MCC, which is a subsidiary of ABInBev, supplies more than 45% of the brewer’s beer cans and 55% of its lids to the US market.
It produces cans and lids for major US soft drink companies including PepsiCo and Monster Beverage Corporation and has can production plants in Florida, California, New York and Colorado and lid plants in Oklahoma and California.
St. Louis-based ABInBev brews Budweiser and Bud Light - the world’s largest selling beers – and holds a 48.3% share of US beer sales to retailers.
$1bn overall investment
The investment is the latest installment in Anheuser-Busch’s promise to invest $1bn in its facilities across the US between 2011 and 2014.
BeverageDaily.com reported in October 2011 on the company’s investment plan, which involves an average yearly spend of $250bn.
In 2010 and 2011, more than $5m was spent to modernise the Arnold can plant, which improved efficiencies and reduced its environmental impact.
The $80m expansion, which has been planned for completion in 2013, will create 20 new jobs at the facility, the company added.
Economic dedication
“The expansion of our Arnold MCC facility is one more example of our company’s dedication to the state, contributing to the economic stability of the region,” said Anheuser-Busch InBev North America president Luiz Edmond.
The company added that the facility expansion has been made possible through a property tax abatement program, which is designed to encourage business recruitment.
“Through our strong partnerships with state and local leaders, we have been able to bring this valuable investment to our hometown,” Edmond added.
