Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, markets, distributes and sells a portfolio of beer and other malt beverage brands.
The company’s products include brands with international distribution, such as Budweiser, Corona (except in the United States), Stella Artois, Beck’s, Leffe, Hoegaarden and Michelob Ultra; and brands primarily distributed to local markets, such as Bud Light in the United States, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Victoria and Pacifico in Mexico; Skol, Brahma and Antarctica in Braz...
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, markets, distributes and sells a portfolio of beer and other malt beverage brands.
The company’s products include brands with international distribution, such as Budweiser, Corona (except in the United States), Stella Artois, Beck’s, Leffe, Hoegaarden and Michelob Ultra; and brands primarily distributed to local markets, such as Bud Light in the United States, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Victoria and Pacifico in Mexico; Skol, Brahma and Antarctica in Brazil; Aguila and Poker in Colombia; Cristal and Pilsen Callao in Peru; Quilmes in Argentina; Jupiler in Belgium and the Netherlands; Franziskaner in Germany; Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Lite and Hansa Pilsener in South Africa; Hero and Trophy in Nigeria; Safari and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; Harbin and Sedrin in China; and Cass in South Korea. The company also produces and distributes soft drinks, primarily in Central and South America and Africa, and beyond beer products, such as Bud Light Seltzer in the United States; and Bud Light Strawberry Lemonade, Palm Bay, and Mike’s Hard Lemonade in Canada.
Principal Activities and Products
The company offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer and malt beverage brands. It has a global footprint with an exposure to developed and developing markets and production facilities spread across its regions. The following included the main brands that the company sells in the markets, as of 31 December 2020:
North America
Canada
Beer and Beyond Beer: Alexander Keith’s, Archibald, American Vintage, Beach Day Every Day, Beck’s, Brava, Bud Light, Bud Light Strawberry Lemonade, Budweiser, Busch, Corona, Hoegaarden, Goose Island, Kokanee, Labatt 50, Labatt Blue, Lakeport, Leffe, Löwenbräu, Lucky, Michelob Ultra, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Mike’s Blue Freeze, Mill Street, NUTRL, Okanagan, Oland, Palm Bay, Rolling Rock, Rockstar, Shock Top, Stanley Park, Stella Artois, and Tail Spin.
The United States
Beer and Beyond Beer: 10 Barrel, Beck’s, Blue Point, Breckenridge, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, Bud Light Platinum, Bud Light Seltzer, Bud Light Platinum Seltzer, Bud Light Chelada, Bud Light Orange, Bud Light Lemonade, Budweiser, Budweiser Zero, Budweiser Select, Busch, Busch Light, Cutwater, Devil’s Backbone, Elysian, Estrella Jalisco, Four Peaks, Golden Road, Goose Island, Hiball, Hoegaarden, Karbach, Kombrewcha, Landshark, Leffe, Rita Family, Michelob Ultra, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold, Michelob Ultra Infusions, Natural Light, Natural Light Seltzer, Patagonia, Presidente, Rolling Rock, Shock Top, Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer, Social Club Seltzer, Stella Artois, Virtue, and Wicked Weed.
Middle Americas
Colombia
Beer: Bahia, Aguila family, Bogota Beer Company, Budweiser, Club Colombia family, Cola y Pola, Corona, Costeña family, Modelo Especial, Pilsen, Poker family, Redd’s, Stella Artois, Azteca, Beck’s, and Busch Light.
Non-Beer: Pony Malta, Malta Leona, and Zalva.
Dominican Republic
Beer: Bohemia, Brahma, Budweiser, Corona, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Modelo (Especial and Negra), Presidente Family, Stella Artois, Shock Top, Spaten, and The One.
Non-Beer: 7UP, Guaraná Antarctica, Enriquillo, Coco Rico, Malta Bohemia, Malta Löwenbräu, Malta Morena, Montpellier water, Pepsi, Red Bull, Red Rock, 911, and VitaMalt.
Ecuador
Beer: Budweiser, Club family, Pilsener family, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck’s, Suprema, Nuestra Siembra, and Archer.
Non-Beer: Manantial water, Pony Malta, Origen, and Origen Vibes.
El Salvador
Beer: Golden, Pilsener, Corona, Taurino, Modelo, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Corona Cero, Michelob Ultra, and Santa Cruz.
Non-Beer: Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Tropical, Ades, Cristal (Water), Del Valle, Monster, Powerade, Oasis (Water), and Fuze Tea.
Guatemala
Beer: Beck’s Blue, Brahva, Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, Corona, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Michelob Ultra, Modelo (Especial and Negra), Shock Top, and Stella Artois.
Honduras
Beer: Barena, Corona, Imperial, Port Royal, SalvaVida, Michelob Ultra, Legacy, Barena Lime, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Tropical, Fresca, Ades, Dasani (Water), Del Valle, Monster, Powerade, Vital (Water), Acti Malta, and Fuze Tea.
Mexico
Beer and Beyond Beer: Barrilito, Bocanegra, Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, Carta Clara, Corona Extra, Corona Cero (non-alcoholic), Corona Light, Corona Ligera, Cucapá, Estrella, Goose Island, Guinness, Hoegaarden, Leon, Mexicali, Michelob Ultra, Michelob Ultra Seltzer, Modelo Ambar, Modelo Especial, Modelo Trigo, Montejo, Modelo Negra, Pacifico, Stella Artois, Tijuana, Tropical Light, Victoria, Victoria 1.8, Vickychelada, and Vicky Chamoy.
Non-Beer: Nestlé Pureza Vital, Perrier, Sn. Pellegrino, Sta. María, and Red Bull.
Panama
Beer: Atlas, Atlas Golden Light, Balboa, Balboa Ice, Budweiser, Corona, Presidente, Michelob Ultra, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Becks, Leffe, Hoegaarden, and Goose Island.
Non-Beer: 7UP, Agua Brisa, Malta Vigor, Mirinda, Pepsi, Pony Malta, Canada Dry, Orange Crush, and Squirt.
Peru
Beer: Arequipeña, Barbarian, Becks, Budweiser, Pacífico, Golden, Corona, Cristal, Cusqueña family, Michelob Ultra, Pilsen Callao, Pilsen Trujillo, San Juan, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Agua Tonica Backus, Guaraná Backus family, Maltin Power, San Mateo water, Viva Backus, Malta Cusqueña, and Mike’s Hard.
South America
Argentina
Beer: Andes, Budweiser, Brahma, Corona, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Löwenbräu, Michelob Ultra, Negra Modelo, Patagonia, Quilmes, Stella Artois, and Temple.
Bolivia
Beer: Báltica, Beck´s, Bicervecina, Bock, Brahma, Corona, Coronita, Ducal, El Inca, Huari, Imperial, Paceña, Stella Artois, and Taquiña.
Non-Beer: Pepsi, Guarana, Ortinal Mirinda, 7Up, Maltin, Gatorade, and H20H!.
Brazil
Beer and Beyond Beer: Antarctica, Antarctica SubZero, Becks, Bohemia, Brahma, Brahma Duplo Malte, Budweiser, Colorado, Corona, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Nossa, Original, Serramalte, Skol, Beats, Skol Puro Malte, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Antárctica Guaraná, Gatorade, H2OH!, Lipton, Pepsi, Sukita, and Tônica Antarctica.
Chile
Beer: Baviera, Baltica, Beck’s, Becker, Brahma, Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Corona, Coronita, Cusqueña, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Kilometro 24.7, Kona, Leffe, Malta del Sur, Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, Paceña, Pilsen, Pilsen Del Sur, Quilmes, and Stella Artois.
Paraguay
Beer: Antarctica, Baviera, Bohemia, Brahma, Brahma Subzero, Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Norte, Ouro Fino, Patagonia, Pilsen, Pilsen Nande, Quilmes, Skol, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Dante Robino.
Uruguay
Beer: Beck’s, Brahma, Budweiser, Corona, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Löwenbräu, Negra Modelo, Michelob Ultra, Norteña, Patagonia, Patricia, Pilsen, Quilmes, Stella Artois, and Zillertal.
Non-Beer: 7UP, Gatorade, Guarana, H2OH!, Mirinda, Paso de los Toros, Pepsi, and Teem.
EMEA
Belgium
Beer and Beyond Beer: Belle Vue, Corona, Cubanisto, Ginette, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Kwak, Leffe, Stella Artois, Tripel Karmeliet, and Victoria Strong Blonde.
France
Beer and Beyond Beer: Beck’s, Belle Vue, Bud, Camden, Corona, Cubanisto, Franziskaner, Ginette, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Kwak, Leffe, Lowenbrau, Stella Artois, and Tripel Karmeliet.
Germany
Beer: Beck’s, Corona, Diebels, Haake-Beck, Hasseroeder, Lowenbrau, and Leffe Spaten.
Italy
Beer: Beck’s, Birra del Borgo, Budweiser, Corona, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Kwak, Leffe, Lowenbrau, Spaten, Stella Atrois, and Tennet’s Super.
Luxembourg
Beer: Corona, Diekirch, Franziskaner, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Kwak, Leffe, Stella Artois, and Tripel Karmeliet.
Netherlands
Beer and Beyond Beer: Bud, Corona, Cubanisto, Dommelsch, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hertog Jan, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Kwak, Leffe, Lowenbrau, Stella Artois, and Tripel Karmeliet.
Spain
Beer and Beyond Beer: Budweiser, Corona, Cubanisto, Dorada, Franziskaner, Hoegaarden, La Virgen, Leffe, Stella Artois, and Tropical.
The United Kingdom
Beer and Beyond Beer: Bass, Beck’s, Boddington’s, Brahma, Budweiser, Bud Light, Camden, Corona, Franziskaner, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Lowenbrau, Magners Cidre, Michelob Ultra, Spaten, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, and Tennent’s Super.
Botswana
Beer and Beyond Beer: Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Castle Free, Castle Milk Corona, Flying Fish, Hansa Pilsener, Redd’s, Stella Artois, Stout, and St. Louis family.
Non-Beer: Bonaqua, Chibuku, and Keone Mooka Mague.
eSwatini
Beer and Beyond Beer: Brutal Fruit, Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Corona, Flying Fish, Hansa Pilsener, Lion Lager, Redd’s, Sibebe, Smirnoff, and Stella Artois.
Ghana
Beer: Budweiser, Club Premium Lager, Club Shandy, Eagle, Eagle Extra Stout, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Beta Malt.
Lesotho
Beer and Beyond Beer: Brutal Fruit, Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Free, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Corona, Flying Fish, Hansa Pilsener, Maluti Premium Lager, Redd’s, Smirnoff, and Stella Artois.
Mozambique
Beer and Beyond Beer: 2M, Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lite, Corona, Dourada, Flying Fish, Impala, Laurentina family, Manica, Stella Artois, and Smirnoff.
Namibia
Beer and Beyond Beer: Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Free Castle Lite, Corona, Eagle Lager, Flying Fish, Lion, Redd’s, and Stella Artois.
Nigeria
Beer: Budweiser, Castle Lite, Eagle, Eagle Stout, Hero, Trophy, and Trophy Stout.
Non-Beer: Beta Malt, Grand Malt, and Rootz.
South Africa
Beer and Beyond Beer: Beck’s, Beck’s Blue, Brutal Fruit, Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Free, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Castle Milk Stout Chocolate, Corona, Flying Fish family, Guinness, Hansa Pilsener, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Lion Lager, No 3 Fransen Street, Newlands Spring, Redd’s family, Red Bull, Shine Club, and Stella Artois.
Non-Beer: Smirnoff.
Tanzania
Beer and Beyond Beer: Balimi, Budweiser, Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Corona, Dodoma, Eagle, Imagi, Kilimanjaro, Redd’s, and Safari.
Non-Beer: Bia Bingwa, Grand Malt, Konyagi, Ndovu Special Malt, and Safari Water.
Uganda
Beer and Beyond Beer: Budweiser, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Chairman’s ESB, Club Pilsener, Club Twist, Eagle family, Konyagi, and Nile family.
Zambia
Beer: Budweiser, Carling Black Label, Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Corona, Eagle, Flying Fish, Leffe, Mosi, and Stella Artois.
The Asia Pacific
China
Beer: Beck’s, Blue Girl, Boxing Cat, Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Franziskaner, Ginsber, Goose Island, Harbin family, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Sedrin, and Stella Artois.
India
Beer: Beck’s Ice, Budweiser, Bud 0.0%, Foster’s, Haywards, and Royal Challenge.
South Korea
Beer: Beck’s, Budweiser, Cafri, Cass, Corona, Goose Island, Harbin, Hoegaarden, OB Lager, Patagonia Weisse, Stella Artois, and Suntory.
Vietnam
Beer: Budweiser, Beck’s family, Corona, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Stella Artois, and Zorok.
Beer
The company’s portfolio includes the following:
International Distribution
Beck’s is brewed in various countries, including the United States.
Budweiser is one of the major beer in the United States. Sales outside the United States represented approximately 70% of global Budweiser volume in 2020.
Corona is a major Mexican beer. Corona is available in approximately 130 countries. The company granted Constellation Brands, Inc. the exclusive right to market and sell Corona beer and certain other Grupo Modelo beer brands in the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and Guam, including Victoria, Modelo Especial, Pacifico and Negra Modelo.
Hoegaarden is a Belgian wheat (‘white’) beer.
Leffe, a full-bodied beer that hails from Belgium is available in approximately 90 countries worldwide.
Michelob Ultra is a low calorie, low carb beer associated with an active lifestyle. In Canada, Mexico and Honduras, Michelob Ultra continued to grow despite category declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Michelob Ultra is also available in multiple other markets, including El Salvador, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala.
Stella Artois is a major Belgian beer and it is distributed in approximately 100 countries worldwide.
North America
Bud Light is a major beer in the United States. It is the official sponsor of the National Football League, with a sponsorship agreement extended to 2022.
Middle Americas
Modelo Especial is a full-flavored pilsner beer brewed with premium two-row barley malt for a slightly sweet taste with a light hop character and crisp finish.
Victoria is a Vienna-style lager and one of Mexico’s major beer.
Aguila is a Colombian lager beer.
Cristal is Peru’s major beer.
Pilsen Callao offers the taste of a Pilsner.
Poker is a Pilsner lager that is focused by Colombians.
South America
Skol is a major beer brand in the Brazilian market.
Brahma is a major consumed beer in Brazil. Brahma Duplo Malte was launched in 2020.
Antarctica is a major consumed beer in Brazil, according to Plato Logic Limited.
EMEA
Jupiler is major in Belgium and the official sponsor of the major Belgian professional football league, the Jupiler Pro League. It is also the sponsor of the Belgian national football team.
Africa
Carling Black Label is the major brand in South Africa.
Castle Lager is primarily described as South Africa’s national beer. Castle Lager is the official sponsor of various South African sporting associations, including the national football and cricket teams.
Castle Lite is a major beer in South African market.
Flying Fish Premium Flavored Beer combines the refreshment of beer with added flavors, such as pressed lemon and green apple.
Hero is a Nigerian beer brewed using local sorghum and malted barley.
Hansa Pilsener is brewed in pilsener style, using Saaz hops, which are responsible for the brand’s aroma.
Kilimanjaro Premium Lager is nourished by the pure waters. It is light in color with 4.5% alcohol by volume and a crisp refreshing taste.
Safari is a full-flavored, full-bodied beer with a golden color and taste that gave rise to a era of beer brewing in Tanzania.
Trophy Lager beer is one of the major selling beers in Nigeria.
The Asia Pacific
Cass is a major brand in South Korea.
Harbin is a national brand with its roots in the northeast of China.
Sedrin is a major regional brand that originated in China’s Fujian province.
Haywards is a major brand in India.
No- and Low-Alcohol Beer
The company has continued to expand its global portfolio of non-alcoholic beverages, which houses approximately 30 brands. As of 2020, China, Panama, Ecuador, Mozambique and Botswana already had no- and low-alcohol beer representing approximately 20% of their beer volumes. The company’s additional non-alcohol beverage brands include Beck’s NA in the United States, Canada, the U.K. and Germany, Jupiler 00 in Belgium and Castle Free in South Africa.
Beyond Beer
The company’s Beyond Beer Brands have allowed it to tap into new occasions and draw new consumers to its portfolio and the category.
Hard seltzer is primary of 2020 with major results from Bud Light Seltzer, Natural Light Seltzer and Nutrl Vodka Soda, among various other offerings across the U.S. and Canada. It also began to expand the hard seltzer category globally with the launch of Mike’s Hard Seltzer in the U.K.
The company also has major performance across multiple markets from its RTD Brands, including Brutal Fruit and Flying Fish in South Africa; Beats in Brazil; Palm Bay in Canada. Its Canadian brand Mike’s Hard Lemonade is moving towards global expansion with launches in China, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
Non-Beer
Non-Alcohol Beverages
The company also has a major presence in the non-alcohol beverages (NAB) market. It has NAB operations in Latin America and Africa, and its subsidiary Ambev S.A. (Ambev) has NAB operations in South America and the Caribbean. The NAB market includes both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.
The company’s NAB business includes both its own brands and agreements with PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo related to bottling and distribution of PepsiCo brands. Ambev has a long-term agreement with PepsiCo whereby it has been granted the exclusive right to bottle, sell and distribute certain PepsiCo brands in Brazil, including Pepsi-Cola, Gatorade, H2OH!, and Lipton Ice Tea. Through the company’s Latin America South operations, Ambev is also PepsiCo’s bottler for Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia, as well as in the Dominican Republic and Panama. In Panama, it also produces and bottles other third-party soft drink brands, such as Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Squirt and Crush.
Apart from the bottling and distribution agreements with PepsiCo, Ambev also produces, sells and distributes its own non-alcoholic beverages. Its main carbonated soft drinks brand is Guaraná Antarctica.
In 2020, The Coca-Cola Company acquired the company’s interest in the bottling operations of its business in Lesotho.
In the United States, the company sells Teavana in partnership with Starbucks and an energy drink called Hiball.
Labatt Breweries of Canada (Labatt), the Canadian subsidiary of the company’s subsidiary Ambev, has entered into a joint venture with Tilray Inc., a global player in cannabis production and distribution, to research non-alcohol beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD), and also to commercialize a non-alcohol CBD beverage in Canada only.
Other Alcoholic Beverages
The company is exploring opportunities in other categories through ZX Ventures, with initiatives in various continents. In wine, the company’s U.S. brand Babe took a step towards global expansion with launches in Canada, the U.K. and South Korea. In Argentina, the company also acquired Dante Robino and launched Blasfemia, a canned wine in the market. In South Africa, the company established Shine Club, a wine in a box. The company also has relevant pilots in the Spirits category with Cutwater in U.S., Atom Group in the U.K. and G&W in Canada.
ZX Ventures
ZX Ventures is the company’s global investment and innovation group. ZX focuses on seeding and launching beverages of the future and building and scaling new ventures outside of the company’s core business.
ZX Ventures invests in areas of varying adjacency to the company’s core beer business, thematically, including direct-to consumer, beverages, sustainability and circular solutions.
Z-Tech
Z-Tech is the company’s global technology and innovation hub whose focus is to enable small and medium-sized businesses through technology, creating an environment where those businesses and their families could focus for the long term. Z-Tech teams make use of an agile methodology as they define small and medium-sized businesses’ needs, explore marketplace and financial technology solutions, validate through proof-of-concept and pilot before scaling across the globe.
Z-Tech was created in 2019 and is active in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, with plans to expand to other markets in 2021.
Strategy
The key elements of the company's strategy include delivering organic growth; and bringing people together for a better world.
Acquisition
In September 2020, the company completed the acquisition of the remaining 68.8% stake in Craft Brew Alliance and obtained 100% control over Craft Brew Alliance.
Discontinued Operations
In June 2020, the company completed the sale of its Australia business (Carlton & United Breweries) to Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. (Asahi). As part of this transaction, the company granted Asahi rights to commercialize its portfolio of global and international brands in Australia.
Main Markets
The company has sales in approximately 150 countries across the globe. As of January 1, 2019, the company had been organized into six business segments. The business segments and their corresponding countries include the following:
North America: The United States and Canada;
Middle Americas: The Caribbean, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru;
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay;
EMEA: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, African Islands, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and export activities in Europe and Middle East;
The Asia Pacific: China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam and other South Asian and Southeast Asian countries; and
Global Export and Holdings Companies.
During the year ended 31 December 2020, the company’s major markets on an individual country basis included Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, with each market having its own dynamics and consumer preferences and trends.
Distribution of Products
In various instances, the company has acquired third-party distributors to help it self-distribute its products, as it has done in Brazil and Mexico.
The products that the company brews in the United States are sold to 415 wholesalers with the exclusive right to carry its products within a designated territory, for resale to retailers, with some entities owning approximately one wholesalership. As of the end of 2020, the company owned 15 of these wholesalers and the remaining wholesalers are independent businesses.
The company distributes its products through its own distribution, in which it delivers to points of sale directly; and third-party distribution networks, in which delivery to points of sale occurs through wholesalers and independent distributors. In certain cases, the company might own or have an ownership stake in a wholesaler. Third-party distribution networks might be exclusive or non-exclusive.
Licensing
License agreements entered into by the company grants the right to third-party licensees to manufacture, package, sell and market its brands in a particular assigned territory under strict rules and technical requirements. In the case of international distribution and/or importation agreements, the company produces and packages the products itself while the third party distributes, markets and sells the brands in the local market. The company has entered into various licensing, distribution and importation agreements relating to its brands, including the following:
Stella Artois is licensed to third parties in various countries, including Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia, while Beck’s is licensed to third parties in Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tunisia and Turkey.
A licensing agreement allows Diageo Ireland to brew and sell Budweiser and Bud Light in the Republic of Ireland, and Diageo Northern Ireland has the right to sell Budweiser in Northern Ireland. Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii AS (Anadolu Efes) has the right to brew and sell Bud in Turkey. The company also sells various brands, including Budweiser, by exporting from its license partners’ breweries to other countries.
The Corona beer brand is perpetually licensed to a subsidiary of Constellation Brands, Inc. for production in Mexico and marketing and sales in 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and Guam.
Aguila, Castle Lager, Cusqueña, Cristal, Redd’s and certain other brands are perpetually licensed to Molson Coors Brewing Company in the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The company has retained rights to brew and distribute these beers outside of the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
In March 2018, following the merger of the company’s businesses in Russia and Ukraine with Anadolu Efes, the company granted the right to brew and/or distribute its various brands, including Bud, Stella Artois and Corona to AB InBev Efes, the company’s combined business with Anadolu Efes.
In connection with the listing of a minority stake of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Limited (Budweiser APAC) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the company has entered into various framework agreements granting Budweiser APAC exclusive licenses to import for sale, manufacture, sell and distribute; and non-exclusive licenses to advertise and promote its brands in APAC territories.
Molson Coors Brewing Company has rights to brew and/or distribute, under license, Beck’s, Löwenbräu, Spaten and Stella Artois, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The Budweiser, Corona Extra, Corona Ligera, Coronita Extra, Pacifico, Modelo Negra, Lowenbrau Original, Lowenbrau Oktoberfest, Hoegaarden, Spaten, Spaten Oktoberfest, Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel, Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Leffe Radieuse, Belle Vue Extra, Birra del Borgo and Goose Island brands are perpetually licensed to Carlton & United Breweries, a subsidiary of Asahi, in Australia.
The Stella Artois, Beck’s and Beck’s 4.0 brands are perpetually licensed to a subsidiary of Heineken in Australia.
In Europe, certain third parties have the right to brew and/or distribute some of the company’s brands, such as Mahou San Miguel in Spain (excluding the Canary Islands), C&C in Scotland and Ireland, and Molson Coors Brewing Company (Molson Coors) in certain countries in Eastern Europe.
The company also manufactures and distributes Brahma, a brand owned by its Brazilian listed subsidiary, Ambev, in Peru and other third-party brands, such as Kirin in the United States. Compañía Cervecera de Canarias (in the Canary Islands) has an agreement to distribute Guinness in the Canary Islands. Ambev and some of the company’s other subsidiaries have entered into manufacturing and distribution agreements with PepsiCo. Major brands that are distributed under this agreement are Pepsi-Cola, Lipton Ice Tea, H2OH! and Gatorade. Ambev and some of the company’s other subsidiaries also have license agreements with the company, which allow them to exclusively produce, distribute and market Beck’s and Stella Artois in Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Chile, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Antigua, Bolivia, Dominica and Saint Vincent, and Budweiser in Brazil, Argentina and Canada. Ambev also distributes Budweiser in Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Uruguay and Chile and Corona in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala, Panama and Canada.
Branding and Marketing
The company’s brand portfolio consists of three global brands (Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois), its multi-country brands (Beck’s, Hoegaarden, Leffe and Michelob Ultra), and various ‘local champions’ (Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, and Skol).
The company owns the rights to its principal brand names and trademarks in perpetuity for the main countries where these brands are commercialized (with the exception of the Modelo beer brands, certain former SAB brands licensed in the United States and certain brands licensed in Australia).
Intellectual Property
The company has approximately 250 pending and granted patent families, each of which covers one or more technological inventions. It licenses in limited technology from third parties. The company also licenses out certain of its intellectual property to third parties, for which it receives royalties.
Regulations
At the federal level, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department oversees the industry, and each state in which the company sells or produces products, and some local authorities in jurisdictions in which the company sells products, also have regulations that affect the business conducted by the company and other brewers and wholesalers.
History
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV was founded in 1366. The company was incorporated in 2016.
