By WYDaily Staff
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Anheuser-Busch today announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in its breweries and other facilities nationwide.
The capital expenditures include modernizing the brewing process, upgrades to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and installation of equipment for new products. At the James City County brewery, general manager Rick Shippey says the brewery has invested $12.8 million since 2010 on such upgrades.
Today's announcement included the following plans:
- $60 million invested in the company’s historic St. Louis brewery for improvements including a utilities overhaul to conserve fuel, electricity and water.
- $34 million for upgrades at the Houston brewery, including a project that allows expanded production by an additional 500,000 barrels per year. The capital investments also help the facility, which runs on 70 percent renewable energy, further reduce its environmental footprint.
- $34 million to introduce packaging and brand innovation in Cartersville, Ga. Other brewery upgrades improve efficiencies and environmental impact, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- $30 million in capital investments at the Los Angeles brewery for projects including environmental modifications to reduce the amount of fiberboard required for packaging and updated energy-efficient lighting.
- $27 million for upgrades in the Baldwinsville, N.Y., facility to increase brewing capacity, add new packaging lines and upgrade wastewater treatment process.
“Our beer brands are the favorites of millions of U.S. adults, and supporting their growth requires an ongoing commitment to quality, innovation and technologically advanced operations,” said Luiz Edmond, president of Anheuser-Busch InBev North America. “Our employees, local leaders and communities where we operate are a part of our success, and we are pleased to make business investments that are good for all of our stakeholders.”
In addition to its breweries, Anheuser-Busch is investing in its agricultural operations and other facilities. Earlier this year the company announced a $40 million investment in its Longhorn Glass facility in Houston. The project involved a re-bricking of the very heart of the plant – its furnace – and expanded production capacity with the introduction of one of the fastest glass-forming machines in the world.
Future spending plans are based on no new or increased taxes or unforeseen events that would negatively impact Anheuser-Busch’s business. The expenditures are consistent with Anheuser-Busch InBev’s 2011 net capital expenditures guidance.
