Dive Brief:
- Anheuser-Busch plans to spend $15 million on its St. Louis brewery, as part of a $300 million U.S. investment announced in May.
- AB InBev’s Anheuser-Busch division said the investment at its flagship U.S. facility includes funding for supply chain infrastructure to transport domestically grown ingredients to St. Louis and its beer to more consumers.
- The spending comes as the Trump administration pushes companies to increase production of food, beverages and other goods in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
The impetus behind Anheuser-Busch’s $300 million investment is to create and sustain jobs in the U.S., according to the company. But the brewer also needs to ensure it can quickly meet changing consumer tastes and efficiently produce what it makes — a necessity as beer consumption falls and inflation prompts consumers to cut back on spending.
“Our latest investment in St. Louis is about more than just creating the highest-quality American-made products – it's also about creating opportunity, driving innovation and building a stronger future for American workers, veterans and the entire U.S. manufacturing industry,” Brendan Whitworth, Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement.
AB InBev’s North American portfolio continued to build momentum and gain market share during the first half of 2025, led by Michelob Ultra, Busch Light, Cutwater and Nutrl.
The company told analysts in June that U.S. sales to retailers decreased by 3.5% during the first six months of the year, outpacing the industry. Executives stated that they are tailoring their investments to focus on “megabrands,” or those with the largest market share.
Even as companies invest in their U.S. operations, many are dealing with uncertainty and higher expenses tied to White House tariffs levied on commodities such as steel and aluminum. The beer industry has warned tariffs could lead to job cuts and plant closures, but AB InBev estimated in February that the impact would be minimal on its business.
