USA, CA: AB InBev to invest $7 mln in its Fairfield brewery

Beer giant Anheuser-Busch announced on July 11 plans to invest $7 million in its Fairfield brewery to support ongoing facility improvements, including new roofing for the facility and new equipment and lighting, on top of other structural repairs, The North Bay Business Journal reported.

A news release from the brewery said the updates made with this investment will “ensure the brewery continues to brew, package and distribute Anheuser-Busch beer in the highest quality and most efficient way possible.”

While investments are made to the Solano County facility every year, per a spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch, the last time the company announced investment in brewing facilities was 2017.

“These investments in our Fairfield brewery strengthen capabilities across our entire business to ensure our northern California facility continues to brew the great-tasting, high-quality products that have satisfied drinkers for generations," said Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch, in the release.

The Fairfield location brews over 20 of the company’s brands including Budweiser, Bud Light and Big Wave. It also has 254 full time employees and was first constructed in 1976.

Anheuser-Busch has invested nearly $2 billion in its facilities across the country with hopes of creating and sustaining jobs while driving economic prosperity in the communities where it operates, according to the news release. The brewery currently has over 120 facilities across 24 states, including flagship and regional craft breweries along with agricultural facilities.

"Anheuser-Busch's latest investment in Fairfield underscores their dedication to bolstering California's job market and manufacturing sector," said Lance Hastings, President and CEO of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. "Through this financial commitment for the future, they're not only revitalizing their infrastructure; they're also reinforcing Fairfield's pivotal role as a cornerstone of their business.“

The company also saw a 2.6% increase in revenue during the first quarter of 2024. Earnings reports for the first quarter of the year found that the beer industry in the U.S. has remained resilient.

The brewer has had presence in California since 1954 and employs over 3,400 people across its 14 facilities in the state, creating an over $2.6 billion in capital investments over the last 70 years, according to the news release.

13 July, 2024