UK: AB InBev confirms Corona beer is now being brewed in the UK

Anheuser-Busch InBev is producing Corona beer in the UK as well as in China, as the brewer ramps up overseas production of a brand previously brewed only in Mexico.

The company confirmed on November 4 to just-drinks an analyst report last month that Corona production started in China in May. A spokesperson for AB InBev also said brewing is now taking place in the UK.

In a post last month on AB InBev UK's website, the brewer confirmed plans to start Corona brewing at its Magor, South Wales, site. The company said it will use the same production process used to make Corona in Mexico for the past 90 years, including the same yeast strain.

Lloyd Manship, the Magor brewery manager, said: "Corona's sales value has been growing by double digits (in the UK), so it makes sense to increase Corona's availability here."

In AB InBev's Q3 results last month, CEO Carlos Brito said the company had "recently started brewing Corona locally in certain markets where it's growing rapidly".

The AB InBev spokesperson did not immediately confirm if Corona is being brewed in markets other than Mexico, the UK and China.

Previously, Corona was only produced in Mexico. AB InBev owns the brand globally, with the exception of the US where it is owned by Constellation Brands. Constellation has expanded its Corona production in Mexico since acquiring the US rights to the beer from AB InBev in 2012 as part of the latter's acquisition of then-brand owner Grupo Modelo.

02 November, 2019