This month marks the Anheuser-Busch Cartersville brewery's 10th anniversary, Anheuser-Busch reported. The first beer shipment of Budweiser 12-ounce cans left the brewery, by truck, June 23, 1993. In its first year of production, the Cartersville brewery employed 400 employees and produced 3.4 million barrels of beer. Today, 10 years later, the facility employs 600 people and produces more than 7.5 million barrels of beer per year.

Although the 10-year span has brought many changes, the brewery's commitment to quality and safety have remained constant, according to Steve McDaniel, plant manager for the Cartersville brewery. "Our commitment to quality focuses on quality products, quality employees and a quality workplace. It also extends to the brewery's dedication to the Cartersville community and the environment. Quality and safety definitely bind everything we do together."

In 1993, the brewery produced only two brands, Budweiser and Busch. Today, the brewery produces more than 15 brands of beer including, Michelob ULTRA, the company's new low-carbohydrate beer. The brewery also brews Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Ice, Bud Ice Light, Bud Dry, Busch, Busch Light, Busch Ice, Hurricane Malt Liquor, King Cobra Malt Liquor, Michelob, Michelob Light, Michelob AmberBock, Natural Light, Natural Ice and Tequiza.

The brewery's payroll has grown from $20 million to $40 million and annual property and local taxes have increased from $1.6 million to in excess of $3 million annually.

Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of the Cartersville brewery, and its charitable foundation have contributed more than $1.5 million to the Cartersville community over the past decade. Last month, the company announced a $150,000 pledge to the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia to support the Cartersville Bartow County Chamber of Commerce "Still Moving Forward" campaign.

In addition to Cartersville Anheuser-Busch operates breweries in Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Collins, Colo.; Fairfield, Calif.; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Merrimack, N.H.; Newark, NJ; St. Louis, Mo.; and Williamsburg, Va.

25 June, 2003