The beer giant behind Budweiser, Bud Light and Leffe announced this month it is further boosting its investment with $300m, an addition to nearly $2bn spent across 100 facilities over the last few years. Much of this has gone towards enhancing operations and technology.
And that comes on the back of a multi-million project from Molson Coors last year, which modernized the largest brewery in the US: which will not only set the factory up for the future but also improve sustainability credentials.
‘Setting a standard’
In 2023 the US was the second largest country in worldwide beer production with a production volume of about 193 million hectoliters, following only China, according to Statistica.
Around 79% of that was domestically produced in the US, and 21% was imported from more than 100 countries worldwide.
In 2024, beer production in the US declined 1.2%, according to figures from the Brewers Association. Around 69% of this came from regional or contract brewers: with microbreweries accounting for 16.4%.
Some beers have to be imported: such as those that are specifically sold as Mexican beer, and face uncertainty from the ever-evolving tariff situation.
However, other major brewers have the choice of importing their brews or brewing domestically.
$2bn investment from Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser Busch’s $300m investment also builds on a $14m investment in its Houston site earlier this year.
The new $300m investment has been welcomed by Lori Chavez-DeRemer, US Secretary of Labor, who calls it a ‘shining example’ of what ‘Made in America’ means. The company, said Chavez-DeRemer, ‘demonstrates exactly what it means to put American workers first, setting a standard for other companies to follow’.
Anheuser-Busch says the new $300m investment is built on supporting American manufacturing through three key pillars.
The first is to create and then sustain manufacturing jobs by investing in local communities. The second is to build a manufacturing workforce for the future by expanding the company’s Technical Excellence Center model beyond its existing base in St. Louis, first with a new facility in Colombus, Ohio.
And thirdly, Anheuser-Busch will focus on career opportunities for veterans. It is partnering with the Manufacturing Institute’s ‘Heroes MAKE America’ program with a new digital credentialing system that translates military experience into skills needed for careers in manufacturing. Meanwhile, the company will train its workforce on the credentialing system, ensuring recruiters understand the unique skillsets of service members.
In fact, more than 10% of the company’s workforce is made up of veterans and active-duty military, with a nearly 100% retention rate and nearly 60% in manufacturing roles.
Brian Crawford CEO and president of the Beer Institute, which represents the US beer industry, said: “The US beer industry pours more than $471 million into the economy each year, directly supporting 77,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs nationwide. In addition, beer industry suppliers employ nearly 570,000 Americans who manufacture bottles and cans, cardboard case boxes, brewing equipment or marketing materials.
“The Beer Institute is proud of Anheuser-Busch – and all our brewers, beer importers and the entire beer supply chain – who invest in manufacturing and supporting American workers every day. These investments ensure the beer industry continues to positively impact communities across the country.”
