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{{Short description|American brewing company}}{{About|the St. Louis based company|the parent company|AB InBev|the historic brewery|Anheuser-Busch Brewery}}{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}

factoids

>Adolphus Busch}}| fate = | location_city = St. Louis, Missouri| location_country = U.S.DATE=APRIL 2012 URL=HTTP://WWW.AB-INBEV.COM/PDF/FACTSHEETS/US2012.PDF PAGE=1, August 12, 2012, | area_served = North AmericaBrendan WhitworthHTTP://WWW.AB-INBEV.COM/ABOUT-US/MANAGEMENT-TEAM.HTML >TITLE=OUR LEADERS ARCHIVE-DATE=AUGUST 16, 2018 URL-STATUS=LIVE, (President)TITLE=BUD LIGHT MANAGEMENT CHANGES: TODD ALLEN APPOINTED VP BUD LIGHT WEBSITE=BEERNET.COM ACCESS-DATE=22 APRIL 2023 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20230421223310/HTTPS://BEERNET.COM/BUD-LIGHT-MANAGEMENT-CHANGES-TODD-ALLEN-APPOINTED-VP-BUD-LIGHT/, live, (Vice President)}}Beverages|Beverage packaging}}BeerMalt beverages>Energy drinks|Bottled water}}| revenue = US$15.588 billion (2018)Revenue and gross profit for 2018 was reported by zone unit and therefore includes other North American subsidiaries of AB InBev, from pg. 58 of company annual report| net_income = US$9.811 billion (2018)anheuser-busch.com}}}}Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLCWEB,weblink Company Overview of Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, February 5, 2017, Bloomberg Research, Bloomberg, February 5, 2017, Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC brews and sells beers. Its portfolio includes spirits, malt beverages, and wines., March 3, 2018,weblink live, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|n|h|aɪ|z|ər|_|ˈ|b|ʊ|ʃ}}, is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.BOOK, Hampson, Tim, 2008, The Beer Book, London, Dorling Kindersley, 18, 978-1405333016, Since 2008, it has been wholly owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev), now the world's largest brewing company,WEB,weblink Company Information, 20 May 2015, Anheuser-Busch InBev, October 7, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161007183515weblink">weblink live, WEB, Dun & Bradstreet, Anheuser-Busch InBev, 2019, Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, company profile,weblink dead,weblink July 26, 2020, September 20, 2019, mdy-all, WEB, AB InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev, 2011, North America Zone Leadership, August 12, 2012,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140329183545weblink">weblink March 29, 2014, dead, mdy-all, which owns multiple global brands, notably Budweiser, Michelob, Stella Artois, and Beck's.WEB, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.,weblink Britannica, 8 May 2022, April 15, 2022,weblink live, The company employs over 19,000 people,WEB,weblink Culture | Anheuser-Busch, December 1, 2022, December 1, 2022,weblink live, operates 12 breweries in the United States, and until December 2009, was one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, with ten theme parks through the company's family entertainment division Busch Entertainment Corporation.WEB,weblink InBev Selling Busch Gardens, SeaWorld Parks, Associated Press, TheLedger.com, October 7, 2009, October 7, 2009, October 11, 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091011085608weblink">weblink live, {{Coord|38|35|57|N|90|12|52|W|display=title}}

History

Beginnings and national expansion

In 1852, German American brewer and saloon operator George Schneider opened the Bavarian Brewery on Carondelet Avenue (later known as South Broadway) between Dorcas and Lynch streets in South St. Louis.Herbst, 32.BOOK, Hampson, Tim, 2008, The Beer Book, London, Dorling Kindersley, 20, 978-1405333016, {{Verification needed|date=September 2023|reason=Conflicting information}} Schneider's Brewery expanded in 1856 to a new brewhouse near Eighth and Crittenden streets; however, the following year, financial problems forced the sale of the brewery to various owners during the late 1850s. In 1860, the brewery was purchased on the brink of bankruptcy by William D'Oench, a local pharmacist, and Eberhard Anheuser, a prosperous German-born soap manufacturer.Jackson, Michael (1977). The World Guide to Beer, pp. 210–211. New York: Ballantine. {{ISBN|0-89471-292-6}} D'Oench was the silent partner in the business until 1869 when he sold his half-interest in the company. From 1860 to 1875, the brewery was known as E. Anheuser & Co., and from 1875 to 1879 as the E. Anheuser Company's Brewing Association.Adolphus Busch, a wholesaler who had immigrated to St. Louis from Germany in 1857, married Eberhard Anheuser's daughter, Lilly, in 1861. Following his service in the American Civil War, Busch began working as a salesman for the Anheuser Brewery.Herbst, 33. Busch purchased D'Oench's share of the company in 1869, and he assumed the role of company secretary from that time until the death of his father-in-law.File:Reefers-shorty-Anheuser-Busch-Malt-Nutrine ACF builders photo pre-1911.jpg|thumb|left|Anheuser-Busch was one of the first companies to transport beer nationwide using railroad refrigerator carrefrigerator carAdolphus Busch was the first American brewer to use pasteurization to keep beer fresh; the first to use mechanical refrigeration and refrigerated railroad cars, which he introduced in 1876; and the first to bottle beer extensively.Sanford Wexler, "From Soap Suds to Beer Suds: How Anheuser-Busch became the Largest Brewer in the World", Financial History, Dec 2002, Issue 77, pp. 30–34Herbst, 34. By 1877, the company owned a fleet of 40 refrigerated railroad cars to transport beer. Expanding the company's distribution range led to increased demand for Anheuser products, and the company substantially expanded its facilities in St. Louis during the 1870s.Herbst, 36. The expansions led production to increase from 31,500 barrels in 1875 to more than 200,000 in 1881.To streamline the company's refrigerator car operations and achieve vertical integration, Busch established the St. Louis Refrigerator Car Company in 1878, which was charged with building, selling, and leasing refrigerator cars; by 1883, the company owned 200 cars, and by 1888 it owned 850. To serve these cars and switch them in and out of their St. Louis brewery, Anheuser-Busch founded the Manufacturers Railway Company in 1887. The shortline operated until 2011, when Anheuser-Busch sought to shut down operations.MAGAZINE,weblink Manufacturers Railway applies to shut down, April 9, 2011, March 25, 2011, Trains Magazine, During the 1870s, Adolphus Busch toured Europe and studied the changes in brewing methods which were taking place at the time, particularly the success of pilsner beer, which included a popular Budweiser beer brewed in Budweis. In 1876, Busch took the already well-known name Budweiser and used it for his new beer, even though his product had no connections to the city of Budweis. His company's ability to transport bottled beer made US Budweiser the first national beer brand in the United States, and it was marketed as a "premium" beer.The company was renamed Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association in 1879; in 1880, Adolphus Busch became company president upon Anheuser's death.Herbst, 37.Rhodes, Christine P. (1995). The Encyclopedia of Beer, pp. 49–53. New York: Henry Holt & Co. {{ISBN|0-8050-3799-3}}. The Busch family fully controlled the company through the generations until Anheuser-Busch's sale to InBev in 2008.Salter, Jim. "Busch family touched by scandal, tragedy" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923231802weblink |date=September 23, 2020}}, NBC News via Associated Press. December 25, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2011.During the 1880s and 1890s, Busch introduced a series of advertisements and marketing giveaways for the company, including bottle openers, calendars, corkscrews, pocketknives, postcards, and prints.Herbst, 38. Among the most well-known of these giveaways was Custer's Last Fight, a lithograph print of a painting by St. Louis artist Cassilly Adams. As a marketing tactic, Busch distributed thousands of copies of the print to bars in 1896, the same year Anheuser-Busch introduced its new "super-premium" brand, Michelob.Chura, Hillary. A-B cranks up Michelob ads, accents Light {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702083327weblink |date=July 2, 2015}}. Advertising Age. July 17, 2000. Retrieved March 14, 2011. Eventually, more than one million copies of the print were produced, and it became "one of the most popular pieces of artwork in American history." WEB, Chromolithograph entitled "Custer's Last Fight",weblink 2022-08-03, National Museum of American History, August 3, 2022,weblink live, At the turn of the 20th century, Anheuser-Busch continued to expand its production facilities to keep up with demand.Herbst, 39. In 1905, the company built a new stockhouse in St. Louis, and by 1907 it produced nearly 1.6 million barrels of beer. As demands for the prohibition of alcohol in the United States grew, Anheuser-Busch began producing non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic beverages (known as near beer); the most successful of these was Bevo, a malt beverage introduced in 1908. After the death of Adolphus Busch in 1913, control of the company passed to his son, August Anheuser Busch Sr., who continued to combat the rise of prohibitionists. As part of an effort to improve the respectability of drinking, August Busch built three upscale restaurants in St. Louis during the 1910s: the Stork Inn, the Gretchen Inn (now known as the Feasting Fox), and the Bevo Mill.File:Olivedrabcan.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Anheuser-Busch produced olive-colored BudweiserBudweiser

Prohibition period

(File:Anheuser-Busch logo.gif|thumb|left|Original Anheuser-Busch logo used from 1879 to 2022)As with all breweries in the country, the Temperance movement and eventual Prohibition in the United States dealt a major blow to the company in the 1910s through the 1930s. Some of the products sold by Anheuser-Busch to survive during Prohibition included brewer's yeast, malt extract, ice cream, and Bevo, a nonalcoholic malt beverage, or "near beer".JOURNAL,weblink Anheuser-Busch celebrates anniversary of Prohibition repeal, Jacksonville Business Journal, April 7, 2006, March 14, 2011, June 29, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110629023031weblink">weblink live,

Prohibition to last years of independence

In 1957, Anheuser-Busch became the largest brewer in the United States.In 1981, Anheuser-Busch International, Inc., was established as a subsidiary responsible for the company's international operations and equity investments. Prior to its 2008 acquisition, Anheuser-Busch operated 15 breweries internationally: 14 in China and one in the United Kingdom.In 1997, Chinese production of Anheuser-Busch products began after the company's purchase of a local brewery; later, the company operated both Budweiser Wuhan International Brewing Company and Harbin Brewery, which Anheuser-Busch fully acquired in 2004. In the United Kingdom, the Budweiser Stag Brewing Company produced and packaged Budweiser at the Stag Brewery in Mortlake.At one time, Anheuser-Busch International also held investments in Grupo Modelo in MexicoGrupo Modelo Appoints Anheuser-Busch as the Importer of its Brands in China {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430094911weblink |date=April 30, 2009}}, Anheuser-Busch Press Release, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2008. Tsingtao Brewery in China; Anheuser-Busch also held investments in Redhook Ale Brewery of Seattle, Washington"Anybody Watching Redhook's Stock..." {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003182838weblink |date=October 3, 2011}}, What's on tap? Newsletter. Retrieved March 24, 2008. and Widmer Brothers Brewery of Portland, Oregon. After the 2008 acquisition, most international operations were transferred to AB InBev zones where the interests are located.

Acquisition by InBev

On June 12, 2008, Belgian-Brazilian brewing company InBev announced that it had made a US$46 billion offer for the company,InBev Proposes Combination with Anheuser-Busch {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702071656weblink |date=July 2, 2012}}. Press release. InBev which if it was accepted would join two of the world's four largest brewing companies (based on revenue) and create a company brewing three of the highest-grossing beers in the world, namely Bud Light, Budweiser, and Skol. InBev also stated that the merger would not result in any U.S. brewery closures and they would attempt to retain management and board members from both companies.NEWS,weblink InBev: U.S. Anheuser Breweries to Stay After Merger, Reuters, The New York Times, June 20, 2008, June 20, 2008, {{Dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}} On June 25, 2008, Anheuser-Busch officially announced that they would reject InBev's offer and provide a restructuring of the company to maintain shareholders and United States World Headquarters in St. Louis.NEWS,weblink Anheuser-Busch set to snub InBev and propose own revamp, The Times, June 25, 2008, June 25, 2008, London, Suzy, Jagger, June 12, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110612055721weblink">weblink live, On July 1, 2008, InBev urged Anheuser-Busch shareholders to vote in favor of the buyout as InBev felt the offer of $65 per share should be considered a reasonable offer in view of the falling stock market. The company had previously filed suit in Delaware, after the rejection of their offer, to ensure that the stockholders could oust Anheuser-Busch's 13 board members.NEWS,weblink InBev pitches buyout bid to Bud shareholders, Associated Press, NBC News, July 1, 2008, July 1, 2008, December 17, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141217003149weblink">weblink live, On July 7, 2008, Anheuser-Busch filed a lawsuit against InBev to stop them from soliciting the support of shareholders, stating that the company's offer is an illegal scheme. InBev was also accused of concealing that they do business in Cuba, which might have created additional obstacles to their efforts to operate in the United States.NEWS,weblink Anheuser-Busch calls InBev takeover bid illegal, Associated Press, Business Week, July 8, 2008, July 9, 2008, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110112185753weblink">weblink January 12, 2011, On July 13, 2008, Anheuser-Busch and InBev said they had agreed to a deal, pending shareholder and regulatory approval,NEWS,weblink Anheuser-Busch, Brazilian Belgian firm InBev are brewin' up a merger, Associated Press, New York Daily News, July 13, 2008, July 14, 2008, October 12, 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081012165627weblink">weblink live, for InBev to purchase the American icon at $70 per share, creating a new company to be named Anheuser-Busch InBev. Anheuser-Busch would get two seats on the combined board of directors. The all-cash agreement, almost $52 billion in total equity, created the world's largest brewer, uniting the maker of Budweiser and Michelob with the producer of Beck's, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Bass, Labatt and Brahma. The two companies had combined yearly sales of more than $36.4 billion, surpassing the current No. 1 brewer, London-based SABMiller.De la Merced, Michael J. nytimes.com, "Anheuser-Busch Agrees to Be Sold to InBev" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301193455weblink |date=March 1, 2017}}, The New York Times. July 14, 2008.Spain, William; Goldstein, Steve. "Anheuser-Busch accepts $52 billion InBev offer" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803162812weblink |date=August 3, 2008}}, MarketWatch. July 14, 2008.Grupo Modelo took InBev to arbitration for more than a year and a half after the deal was completed, attempting to block the deal.On October 7, 2009, parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev announced plans to sell the theme parks division to The Blackstone Group for up to {{USD|2.7 billion}}.Blackstone to buy A-B InBev's theme parks for $2.7 billion {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915094804weblink |date=September 15, 2018}}. MarketWatch, October 7, 2009In July 2010, a panel decided that the takeover did not violate Anheuser-Busch's agreement with Modelo.p. 338 Dethroning the King, The Hostile Takeover of AnHeuser-Busch, An American Icon – Julie MacIntosh

Post-acquisition changes

On November 18, 2008, the hostile takeover was completed, and the parent corporation was renamed Anheuser-Busch InBev; Anheuser-Busch became a wholly owned subsidiary of the new corporation, controlled within the North America zone unit of AB InBev. By early 2009, AB InBev "turned a family-led company that spared little expense into one that is focused intently on cost-cutting and profit margins, while rethinking the way it sells beer."NEWS,weblink Unease Brewing at Anheuser As New Owners Slash Costs, The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2009, April 30, 2009, David, Kesmodel, Suzanne, Vranica,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090430134003weblink">weblink April 30, 2009, live, AB InBev focused on reducing costs in the Anheuser-Busch Companies subsidiary and implemented performance-related pay, along with several other changes. They immediately laid off 1,400 employees and 415 contractors,WEB,weblinkweblink" title="archive.today/20100118075843weblink">weblink dead, January 18, 2010, Small number laid off today at Anheuser-Busch InBev, St. Louis post Dispatch, January 15, 2010, February 6, 2010, sold Busch Entertainment Corporation, and sold company-owned aircraft.NEWS,weblink Bitter Brew, Losch Management, April 2013, September 19, 2013, November 29, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131129024127weblink">weblink live, For employees, AB InBev ended perquisites such as executive assistants for senior management, company contributions to the salaried employee pension plan, and company-provided life insurance to retirees; it also reduced the number of company-provided cell phones, taking back 1200 Blackberries; and ended tuition reimbursement, and severance packages. Perks like free tickets to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games and for Busch Gardens were taken away from employees. Anheuser-Busch stopped providing free beer to its employees and visitors to its theme parks. These internal changes accompanied changes in its advertising. These cost-cutting measures rapidly reduced AB InBev's debt from $56.6 billion in 2008 to $30.1 billion at the end of 2012. When the restructuring was complete, only three senior-level Anheuser-Busch managers remained.InBev auctioned off several large assets in an effort to pay off debt to the banks that financed the merger.p 334 Dethroning the King, The Hostile Takeover of AnHeuser-Busch, An American Icon, Julie MacIntosh It sold Anheuser's 27% stake in China's Tsingtao, sold a few beverage can and lid-making plants to Ball Corporation, and sold its own Korean beer business for $1.8 billion to private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts & Co.p. 356 Dethroning the King, The Hostile Takeover of AnHeuser-Busch, An American Icon – Julie MacIntosh It put the 10 theme parks in Anheuser's Busch Entertainment Unit, which included its three SeaWorld locations, up for sale.Under InBev, Anheuser-Busch also lengthened accounts payable terms, and introduced zero-based budgeting. These changes caused concern from its suppliers when Anheuser-Busch announced it would take 120 days to pay its bills rather than 30 days, taking time to use that money for other purposes. The new payment policy often results in longer periods than 120 days, since the 120 days starts from the end of the month in which the invoice is 'approved' internally, which can be many days/months after an invoice is submitted. InBev signed a 10-year lease on 31,500 square feet of office space on Park Avenue in New York, which led to speculation that they would move Anheuser-Busch InBev North American headquarters from St Louis.Julie MacIntosh, Dethroning the King, p. 335In February 2013, a widely publicized lawsuit accused AB InBevNEWS,weblink Drinkers sue Anheuser-Busch for 'watering down' beer, BBC Online, February 27, 2013, February 26, 2013, February 27, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130227050538weblink">weblink live, of "watering down" products including Budweiser and Michelob. Such beers are intentionally brewed over-strength and then "watered down" to the intended level, creating a product of equal or greater quality.WEB,weblink High Gravity Brewing – risks, benefits and considerations, Moosehead Beer Academy, October 13, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151018044301weblink">weblink October 18, 2015, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink Budweiser May Seem Watery, But It Tests At Full Strength, Lab Says, February 27, 2013, NPR, October 13, 2015, October 16, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151016064746weblink">weblink live, The lawsuit was dismissed.WEB,weblink Judge dismisses lawsuits alleging A-B waters down beer, Lee Enterprises, stltoday.com, June 3, 2014, October 13, 2015, August 20, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140820173352weblink">weblink live, Of Anheuser's top executives, only three remained in their jobs following the acquisition: Dave Peacock as president of the merged company's US division; Gary Rutledge as general counsel for the company's North American business; and Bob Golden, Anheuser's former acquisitions head, as global head of the merged company's mergers and acquisitions effort.p. 350 Dethroning the King, The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch, An American Icon – Julie Macintosh

Operations and products

Anheuser-Busch Companies operates as one of several subsidiaries in the North America zone unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) and it produces and distributes hundreds of products from the AB InBev portfolio.On October 10, 2016, a $100 billion merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller closed. The new company is trading as NewbelcoSABMiller.WEB,weblink It's Final: AB InBev Closes On Deal To Buy SABMiller, Nurin, Tara, October 10, 2016, Forbes, January 28, 2017, February 3, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170203010314weblink">weblink live,

Corporate leadership

Michel Doukeris is the current CEO of AB InBev, the parent company of the U.S. operation,WEB,weblink Our Leaders | AB InBev, April 16, 2023, April 16, 2023,weblink live, and Brendan Whitworth is the current CEO of the Anheuser-Busch subsidiary.WEB,weblink Leadership | Anheuser-Busch, April 16, 2023, April 15, 2023,weblink live, Previous corporate leaders of Anheuser-Busch include:

• 1860–1880 Eberhard Anheuser
• 1880–1913 Adolphus Busch
• 1913–1934 August A. Busch Sr.
• 1934–1946 Adolphus Busch III
• 1946–1971 Gussie Busch
• 1971–1974 Richard A. Meyer
• 1974–2002 August A. Busch III
• 2002–2006 Patrick Stokes
• 2006–2008 August A. Busch IV

In 2008 Anheuser-Busch was acquired by InBev, and the combined company was renamed Anheuser-Busch InBev.{| class="wikitable sortable"! Years! CEO of parent company AB InBev! Leader of the Anheuser-Busch subsidiary| 2008–2012Carlos Brito (businessman)HTTPS://WWW.AB-INBEV.COM/CONTENT/DAM/ABINBEV/NEWS-MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/2021/04/ABI_CEO_050621_EN.PDF ACCESS-DATE=APRIL 16, 2023 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20210709185423/HTTPS://WWW.AB-INBEV.COM/CONTENT/DAM/ABINBEV/NEWS-MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/2021/04/ABI_CEO_050621_EN.PDF, live, Dave Peacock (businessman)>Dave Peacock| 2012–2014| Luiz Edmond| 2014–2018| João Castro Neves| 2018–2021| Michel Doukeris| 2021–Present| Michel Doukeris| CEO Brendan Whitworth

Brewery operations

File:Anheuser-Busch Brewery at St. Louis.jpg|thumb|Brewery at alt=(File:StLouisABPackaging Plant.JPG|thumb|The packaging plant in St. Louis|alt=)Anheuser-Busch Companies has operated 13 breweries, all located in the United States:

• St. Louis, Missouri (opened 1852)
• Newark, New Jersey (opened 1951)
• Los Angeles, California (opened 1954)
• Tampa, Florida (opened 1959, now closed)
• Houston, Texas (opened 1966)
• Columbus, Ohio (opened 1968)
• Jacksonville, Florida (opened 1969)
• Merrimack, New Hampshire (opened 1970)
• Williamsburg, Virginia (opened 1972)
• Fairfield, California (opened 1976)
• Baldwinsville, New York (opened 1983)
• Fort Collins, Colorado (opened 1988)
• Cartersville, Georgia (opened 1993)

The St. Louis brewery, which opened in 1852, is a National Historic Landmark District, and includes three buildings listed as National Historic Landmarks. Public tours of the brewery are offered. The tour takes visitors through the complex where they can see beer being made and packaged in a working part of the brewery. The company keeps a rotation of its famous Budweiser Clydesdales at its headquarters, and visitors to the brewery can observe the clydesdales in their exercise field and see their places in the carriage house.The brewery was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.JOURNAL,weblink National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Anheuser-Busch Brewery, April 1978, PDF, Cecil McKithan and Stephen Lissandrello, National Park Service, June 22, 2009, July 26, 2020,weblink live, and {{NHLS url|id=66000945|title=Accompanying four photos, from 1895, ca. 1900, 1942, and ca. 1970|photos=y}} {{small|(1.90 MB)}}WEB,weblink Anheuser-Busch Brewery, June 28, 2008, National Historic Landmark summary listing, National Park Service, August 4, 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090804114432weblink">weblink dead, The landmarked area includes 189 structures spread over {{convert|142|acre|ha}}, including many red brick Romanesque ones "with square crenelated towers and elaborate details." The Brew House, built in 1891–1892, is particularly notable for its "multi-storied hop chandeliers, intricate iron-work, and utilization of natural light".

Other operations

Aside from supply operations like brewing and packaging, Anheuser-Busch Companies includes Anheuser-Busch Wholesale Operations Divisions (WOD), Anheuser-Busch Agricultural Operations, Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation, Eagle Packaging, and Busch Properties, which manages subsidiary-owned property. Anheuser Busch owns and operates aluminum can plants (Metal Container Corporation). MCC supplies Anheuser Busch breweries and Pepsi Beverages Group fillers across the US. Suppliers to Anheuser-Busch Companies include Owens-Illinois, which provides glass bottles to several Anheuser-Busch breweries. Anheuser-Busch also owns glass production facilities, such as the former Longhorn Glass, which provides glass for the Houston brewery. Anheuser-Busch Companies delivers its products to retailers through a network of more than 500 independent wholesalers and 13 wholly owned distributors.WEB,weblink Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Operations, Anheuser-Busch, August 12, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140224132200weblink">weblink February 24, 2014, dead, mdy-all, On February 20, 1953, Anheuser-Busch purchased the St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball club and owned them until March 21, 1996, when the club was sold to a group of private investors.In 1966, Busch Memorial Stadium was paid for and built by the brewery and opened for business; Anheuser-Busch later purchased the stadium in 1981 for $53 million and removed the "Memorial" in its name. The stadium was demolished in late 2005 and replaced by a new ballpark in 2006. Anheuser-Busch signed an agreement to retain the "Busch Stadium" name on the new building through 2025.Up until 2009, Anheuser-Busch was also one of the largest theme park owners/operators in the United States, with ten parks throughout the country through its entertainment division, Busch Entertainment Corporation, including its three SeaWorld locations. The company is now known as SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

Beverage products

Anheuser-Busch Companies is responsible for the production, importation and distribution of several AB InBev products, including three company-designated global brands, Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Beck's. Other multi-country brands distributed or produced by Anheuser-Busch Companies include Leffe and Hoegaarden, while local brands produced by the company include Bass Pale Ale, Bud Light, Busch Beer, Landshark Lager, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Natural Light, and Shock Top. The company also produces nonalcoholic beverages, malt liquors (such as King Cobra and Hurricane), and flavored malt beverages (e.g. the Bacardi Silver family and Tequiza).{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}On December 22, 2015, it was announced that Anheuser-Busch would purchase Breckenridge Brewery for an undisclosed sum.WEB, Wallace, Alicia, Breckenridge Brewery sold to giant Anheuser-Busch's "High End",weblink denver Post, December 22, 2015, December 22, 2015, January 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160123161616weblink">weblink live,

Advertising

File:Kevin harvick (47223208601) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Kevin Harvick's Busch sponsored 2019 NASCAR Ford Mustang at Pocono RacewayPocono Raceway(File:Malt-Nutrine, 1898.jpg|thumb|right|1898 magazine ad for Malt-Nutrine)Prior to its acquisition by InBev, the company was known in the United States for its advertising presence, including a sports marketing division which created advertising material for the Super Bowl and many other sporting events. Budweiser has sponsored horse racing events and motorsports including NASCAR, the "Miss Budweiser" racing hydroplane, and the "Budweiser King" championship top fuel dragster of Kenny Bernstein.Since the acquisition by AB InBev, the company has significantly cut back its advertising, predicated on the belief that "changing demographics and media habits no longer require spending as much on mainstream sports events".

Controversies

Spykes underaged alcohol marketing

In 2007, the company introduced a flavored 12% abv malt liquor under the name Spykes. It was sold in colorful, 2-ounce bottles. Available flavors included mango, lime, melon and chocolate.WEB,weblink Hot melon in your Budweiser? – Business – US business – Food Inc. – NBC News, NBC News, January 25, 2007, October 13, 2015, October 18, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151018044302weblink">weblink live, It was withdrawn in the same year after criticism from alcohol industry watchdog groups that it was being marketed to underage customers, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau found that the labeling of Spykes was illegal."A booze buzz for teenyboppers?" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923220948weblink |date=September 23, 2020}}, March 30, 2007, NBC NewsWEB,weblink Anheuser-Busch's "Spykes" Labels Illegal, Group Says, April 16, 2007, October 13, 2015, September 23, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150923211637weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink Anheuser-Busch Pulls "Spykes" – CBS News, www.cbsnews.com, December 22, 2009, May 18, 2007, February 5, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110205013537weblink">weblink live,

Environmental record

In 2002, the Political Economy Research Institute ranked Anheuser–Busch 40th among the "Toxic 100", a list of U.S. corporations most responsible for air pollution. The study found that Anheuser–Busch released 1,002,786 kg (2,213,657 lbs) of toxic pollutants annually into the air.WEB,weblink PERI: Home, October 13, 2015, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20111001071549weblink">weblink October 1, 2011, This is mainly because large amounts of CO2 are released during the process of fermentation.Anheuser-Busch has received numerous awards for its efforts to reduce its impact on the environment.WEB,weblink Anheuser-Busch Environmental, Health & Safety Report, December 12, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120211145956weblink">weblink February 11, 2012, dead, mdy-all, In 1995 Anheuser-Busch's Baldwinsville brewery won an award for pollution prevention from the New York Governor for its use of a "comprehensive, energy-producing pollution-prevention system – bioenergy recovery – to treat wastewater from the brewing process." The brewery also reduced solid waste by nearly 70 percent from 1990 to 1994. In addition, the Baldwinsville brewery found markets for previous "waste" materials used in the fermentation of Anheuser-Busch beers."NYS Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention – Anheuser-Busch" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200709weblink |date=March 3, 2016}}. Retrieved May 6, 2008 The Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corp. recycled more than 27 billion cans in 2006, a number far greater than what was used in its own packaging. Similarly, Anheuser-Busch has set short-term goals to reduce energy consumption 5% and increasing use of renewable fuel from 8 to 15% by 2010. Along with these goals, Anheuser-Busch has succeeded in cutting down its water use by 3% since 2002."Anheuser-Busch To Make Green Beer" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200858weblink |date=March 3, 2016}}. Retrieved May 6, 2008 Its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev has recently announced a commitment to secure 100% of the company's purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025.NEWS,weblink Anheuser-Busch InBev Commits to a 100% Renewable Electricity Future, 2017-04-08, April 9, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170409111001weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink Bud Boss Promises 'Greener' Beer In Big Shift To Renewable Energy, Helman, Christopher, Forbes, 2017-04-08, April 9, 2017,weblink live, The brewery also operates an environmental outreach program to encourage recycling, energy conservation, and habitat preservation, as well as to prevent littering and water pollution.Anheuser-Busch Environmental Outreach. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203082112weblink |date=February 3, 2016}} For past 18 years Anheuser-Busch employees have participated in "Green Week", which focuses on environmental conservation education for employees and their families."Anheuser-Busch Employees Seeing Green" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007183008weblink |date=October 7, 2021}} "Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire" April 11, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008Anheuser-Busch states they do not use animal-derived products, artificial ingredients, additives or preservatives at any stage of the brewing process or as part of the packaging in any of their range, with the exception of three Michelob products and two Bud Light products, which contain honey and shellfish respectively, and are marketed as such.Anheuser-Busch: Has Some Vegan Options {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314115011weblink |date=March 14, 2011}}. Barnivore.com. Feb 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. All other Anheuser-Busch beers are brewed using water, yeast, barley malt, hops, and additional cereal grains. Anheuser-Busch eliminates the need for isinglass finings by settling and removing particles before fermentation. The beechwood aging process also helps to attract and remove yeast from the brew before the lagering process has ended.WEB,weblink Barnivore – Your online drink directory, July 5, 2021, July 7, 2011,weblink" title="archive.today/20110707212845weblink">weblink bot: unknown, WEB,weblink Vegetarian beers, Geraint Paul Bevan, October 13, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150925000414weblink">weblink September 25, 2015, dead, mdy-all, This only applies to the beers the company brews itself.Anheuser-Busch became a pioneer for electricity-powered heavy trucks. It ordered hundreds of trucks from Nikola Motor, an Arizona company specialized in the development of hydrogen-fueled engines.Christof Leisinger: Nikola – der «Tesla» der Lastwagenbranche hebt ab wie eine Rakete. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611161703weblink |date=June 11, 2020}} Neue Zürcher Zeitung, June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020

Budweiser Bill

In 2003, after numerous deaths in soccer stadiums, Brazil passed a law outlawing alcohol sales in stadiums. FIFA demanded that Brazil allow alcohol sales at the 2014 FIFA World Cup because Budweiser, a major World Cup sponsor is the "Official Beer of the FIFA World Cup", a role it has played since 1986.In response, Brazil passed a law paving the way for alcohol sales in the World Cup, nicknamed the "Budweiser Bill".Brazil Moves To Ease Soccer Beer Ban, As World Cup Spat With FIFA Grows {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318040837weblink |date=March 18, 2015}}, NPR (March 7, 2012).Brazilian Senate approves 'Budweiser bill' ending dispute with FIFA over World Cup sponsoring {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230247weblink |date=July 14, 2014}}, Merco Press, (May 10, 2012).

"Up for Whatever" beer campaign controversy

In April 2015, Anheuser-Busch, in an effort to target new, younger consumers to buy its products, the company printed a slogan on Bud Light bottles that said "The perfect beer for removing 'no' from your vocabulary for the night. #UpForWhatever."NEWS, Kurtis Lee,weblink Bud Light's 'Up for Whatever' slogan hits a target, but is it the wrong one?, Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2015, June 14, 2023, April 6, 2023,weblink live, The label triggered a backlash, and the company was immediately criticized by people who charged that it could be interpreted as promoting rape.NEWS, Anthony Venutolo,weblink Poll: Does Bud Lightu0027s controversial label promote rape?, The Star-Ledger, April 29, 2015, June 14, 2023, March 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304060741weblink">weblink live, Bud Light's vice president Alexander Lambrecht addressed the situation via Twitter, first saying that the slogans were meant to promote brand engagement in a "positive and lighthearted way", but that the company had "missed the mark" with their "up for whatever" slogan.WEB, Kantli, Marianna, 2019-03-17, Bud Light {{!, Up For Whatever |url=https://medium.com/ad-discovery-and-creativity-lab/bud-light-up-for-whatever-5020a09f46cd |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Medium|archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212174918weblink |url-status=live}} He ended his message by saying that Bud Light would "never condone disrespectful or irresponsible behavior". His message was followed by a Twitter response from Lisa Weser; the former head of communications and marketing for Anheuser-Busch InBev,WEB, Lisa Weser - Leadership - Acceleration Community of Companies,weblink 2022-12-13, Lisa Weser - Leadership - Acceleration Community of Companies, who also responded to the situation via Twitter. Her response repeated Alexander Lambrecht's concluding message.

Liquor law violations in Seattle

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) issued a $150,000 violation to Anheuser-Busch in May 2016. Investigators determined that Anheuser-Busch entered into an illegal agreement of exclusivity with two concert venues in Seattle – the Showbox and the Showbox SoDo.NEWS, Kendall Jones,weblink Anheuser-Busch gets $150,000 fine for liquor law violations in Seattle, Washington Beer Blog, May 16, 2016, May 25, 2016, May 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160526042452weblink">weblink live,

2017 Super Bowl advertising

In early February 2017, Anheuser-Busch's "Budweiser – Born the Hard Way" Super Bowl commercial was released online, prompting conservative political rebuke over its depiction of the immigration of founder Adolphus Busch from Germany to St. Louis. Although the ad had been conceived eight months before its release, some perceived the ad to be a political statement in opposition to then-current president Donald Trump. A week before the ad's release, public controversy erupted over an executive order prohibiting entry of immigrants, refugees, and re-entry of permanent residents from seven countries into the United States.WEB,weblink People are boycotting Budweiser because of this immigration-themed Super Bowl ad, Snyder, Chris, Business Insider, 2019-10-31, October 31, 2019,weblink live, The script for the advertisement was finalized after the November elections, when Budweiser's internal marketing team settled on the twelfth revision of the script. Shooting for the commercial then took place in January.WEB,weblink How Budweiser Created an Epic Immigrant Story to Reclaim the Super Bowl Spotlight, Monllos, Kristina, January 29, 2017, adweek.com, 2019-10-31, October 31, 2019,weblink live, The ad controversy followed after controversy in May 2016 when Trump, then a presidential candidate, was perceived by some to be hijacking Budweiser's America branding campaign for his own political purposes.WEB,weblink Donald Trump takes credit for Budweiser beer name change to 'America', CBS News, May 11, 2016, 2019-10-31, October 31, 2019,weblink live,

2019 Super Bowl advertising

On March 21, 2019, Anheuser-Busch was sued for false advertising by rival MillerCoors over a Bud Light commercial that aired during Super Bowl LIII.WEB, Belmonte, Adriana, MillerCoors sues Anheuser-Busch over corn syrup Super Bowl ads,weblink finance.yahoo.com, March 21, 2019, 21 March 2019, March 22, 2019,weblink live, The commercial claimed MillerCoors' Miller Lite and Coors Light products contain corn syrup, but the lawsuit argues that corn syrup is only used during the brewing process as a fermentation aid and neither beer contains corn syrup. The suit alleges that Anheuser-Busch is using "false and misleading statements" to confuse health-conscious consumers into thinking the beers contain high-fructose corn syrup, which has been linked with obesity.WEB, Lucas, Amelia, MillerCoors sues Anheuser-Busch for its Bud Light Super Bowl ad,weblink cnbc.com, 21 March 2019, 21 March 2019, March 21, 2019,weblink live, An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson called the lawsuit "baseless" and said it would not deter Bud Light from "providing consumers with the transparency they demand."WEB, Beer war escalates: MillerCoors sues Anheuser-Busch over Super Bowl corn syrup commercial,weblink stltoday.com, March 21, 2019, 21 March 2019, March 21, 2019,weblink live, MillerCoors {{when?|date=April 2023}} sought an injunction to prevent Bud Light from continuing the ad campaign, as well as a trial by jury and legal fees. Anheuser-Busch prevailed in the Seventh Circuit in 2020,WEB, Lupo, Anthony, Mills, Matthew, Maginnis, Thorne, A Case of Beer: Seventh Circuit Decides Ad Dispute Between Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors,weblink ArentFox Schiff LLP, May 14, 2020, ArentFox Schiff, 22 March 2024, with the court finding that since Miller included corn syrup on the ingredients list, Anheuser-Busch was within the bounds of the Lanham Act.

2023 Bud Light boycott

(File:WSJ bud light data.jpg|thumb|Top beer brands in the U.S. the first half of 2023)On April 2, 2023, Anheuser-Busch's brand Bud Light started facing a boycott,WEB, Stewart, Emily, 2023-04-12, The Bud Light boycott, explained as much as is possible,weblink 2023-04-27, Vox, April 26, 2023,weblink live, NEWS, Floyd, Thomas, Selk, Avi, April 15, 2023, Bud Light chief says he 'never intended' boycott over trans star Dylan Mulvaney,weblink April 17, 2023, The Washington Post, 0190-8286, April 15, 2023,weblink live, WEB, 2023-04-25, Anti-trans backlash against Bud Light has executives on the hot seat. What's going on?,weblink 2023-04-27, Los Angeles Times, April 27, 2023,weblink live, after partnering with transgender influencer and activist Dylan Mulvaney.WEB, Phillips, Aleks, 2023-04-03, Bud Light faces boycott over trans activist partnership: 'Never drink it',weblink 2023-04-07, Newsweek, April 6, 2023,weblink live, WEB, Dodgson, Lindsay, April 6, 2023, Conservatives called for a boycott of Bud Light after it partnered with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The company stood by its choice.,weblink 2023-04-07, Insider, April 17, 2023,weblink live, Alissa Heinerscheid, the vice president of marketing behind the campaign,WEB, Durbin, Dee-Ann, 2023-04-26, Bud Light fumbles, but experts say inclusive ads will stay,weblink 2023-04-27, AP News, April 26, 2023,weblink live, WEB, April 26, 2023, Bud Light fumbles, but experts say inclusive ads will stay,weblink 2023-04-27, NBC News, April 27, 2023,weblink live, took a leave of absence on April 21, 2023.NEWS, Telford, Taylor, April 22, 2023, Bud Light's attempt to market to new customers alienated old ones, The Washington Post,weblink April 27, 2023, 0190-8286, April 22, 2023,weblink live, NEWS, Holpuch, Amanda, Creswell, Julie, 2023-04-25, 2 Executives Are on Leave After Bud Light Promotion With Transgender Influencer, The New York Times,weblink 2023-04-27, 0362-4331, April 27, 2023,weblink live, She was replaced by Budweiser Global Marketing VP Todd Allen.NEWS, 2023-04-22, Bud Light Marketing Executive Takes Leave After Controversy: Ad Age, Bloomberg.com,weblink 2023-04-22, April 22, 2023,weblink live, On May 10, 2023, HSBC downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev stock as it dealt with a "Bud Light crisis".WEB, HSBC downgrades Anheuser-Busch InBev as it deals with a 'Bud Light crisis',weblink 2023-05-10, NBC News, May 10, 2023, May 10, 2023,weblink live, Analysts at HSBC cited "deeper problems than ABI admits" after the partnership with Mulvaney resulted in a wave of backlash and a boycott. The analyst cited a Beer Marketer's Insights note that showed a steep drop in beer sales "of maybe more than 25%" in April.WEB, HSBC downgrades Anheuser-Busch InBev as it deals with a 'Bud Light crisis',weblink 2023-05-10, NBC News, May 10, 2023, May 10, 2023,weblink live, On June 13, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bud Light lost the title as the top-selling U.S. beer, with Modelo Especial in May taking the top sales spot.NEWS, Maloney, Jennifer, 2023-06-13, Bud Light Loses Title as Top-Selling U.S. Beer, Wall Street Journal,weblink 2023-06-14, 0099-9660, Yahoo! Finance, on July 10, 2023, reported a recent YouGov survey's findings that Bud Light's popularity among American beer brands dropped to the 14th position. WEB, 2023-07-10, Bud Light Plummets To 14th Place Among Beers As Anheuser-Busch CEO Pleads For Consumers To Think Of The 65,000 Employees Impacted By Boycotts,weblink 2023-07-11, Yahoo Finance, On July 26, 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that Anheuser-Busch laid off hundreds of workers at its U.S. sales offices after months of slumping sales at Bud Light.NEWS, Yeung, Ngai, 2023-07-27, Bud Light Brewer Lays Off Hundreds of U.S. Workers, Wall Street Journal,weblink 2023-07-27, 0099-9660, Anheuser-Busch reported in its second quarter earnings, on August 3, 2023, that its revenue in the United States fell more than 10 percent in the second quarter, versus the same period last year, “primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light.” Operating profit at the U.S. unit dropped by nearly 30 percent.NEWS, 2023-08-03, Fall in Bud Light Sales Puts Dent in Beer Maker's Earnings, The New York Times,weblink 2023-08-03, Moreno, J. Edward, On February 29, 2024, CNN Business reported, Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, experienced a significant financial hit, potentially losing up to Sales.4 billion in sales. This loss was attributed to the controversy and subsequent boycott of Bud Light in the United States, following the sponsored Instagram post featuring the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which notably impacted the company's overall growth and beer sales volume in North America.WEB, Ziady, Hanna, 2024-02-29, Bud Light boycott likely cost Anheuser-Busch InBev over $1 billion in lost sales {{!, CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/business/bud-light-boycott-ab-inbev-sales/index.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}

Ties with Washington University in St. Louis

Adolphus Busch joined Washington University's Board of Directors in 1895, back when the school was still located on its old downtown St. Louis campus. Adolphus would continue to serve on the board until his death in 1913, at which point his son, August Busch Sr. took over his seat. Though Adolphus Busch III and Gussie Busch never sat on the board, the ties between their company and the school were still strong. August Busch III, CEO of Anheuser-Busch from 1975 to 2002, would become a trustee of the university, a position he holds to this day. The Anheuser-Busch Foundation donation that gave its name to Anheuser-Busch Hall was made in honor of Fred L. Kuhlmann, an executive officer of both the company and the St. Louis Cardinals under August Busch III. Kuhlmann, who held these positions for most of the 1980s and early 1990s, graduated from WashU's undergraduate and law programs.WEB,weblink Anheuser-Busch Hall, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019-08-04, August 4, 2019,weblink live, Though the Busch family no longer owns Anheuser-Busch, the connection between the company and the university is ongoing. Jack H. Purnell, former CEO of Anheuser-Busch, where he worked for 36 years, is an executive in residence of the Olin Business School.WEB,weblink Bears and beer: A history of WU's connection to Anheuser-Busch, Student Life, February 7, 2019, 2019-08-04, August 4, 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190804010853weblink">weblink live,

See also

• Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association Building
• SeaWorld Entertainment
• Manufacturers Railway (St. Louis)
• Jacques Chirac – former President of France worked at the St Louis plant in the 1950s during his summer term at Harvard University.

Notes

{{Reflist|30em}}

Further reading

• Dethroning the King – The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch, an American Icon. Julie MacIntosh (John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2011)
• Bitter Brew – The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer. William Knoedelseder (HarperCollins, 2012)

External links

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{HABS |survey=MO-1613 |id=mo0926 |title=Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Broadway & Pestalozzi, Saint Louis, Independent City, MO |photos=3 |data=2 |cap=1}}
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100113182118weblink">Anheuser-Busch Web Page on the St. Louis Brewery Tour
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170215120911weblink">Collection of mid-twentieth century advertising featuring Anheuser-Busch products from the TJS Labs Gallery of Graphic Design.

{{Anheuser-Busch}}{{St. Louis Cardinals owners}}{{Authority control}}