AB InBev

Beverage brands invest in 100% rPET to tackle the environmental impacts of plastic packaging. Pic: Getty/nopponpat

Plastic vs plastic: Which packaging is best?

By Beth Newhart

The fight against ‘single use plastic’ has beverage brands evolving their packaging and even switching to glass and aluminum. But not all plastic bottles are created equal, and brands are testing a range of options.

Hard seltzer products made up 20% of all online beer sales through Drizly on Super Bowl Sunday. Pic: Getty/Davizro

Beer and seltzer dominate ads and consumption for Super Bowl LIV

By Beth Newhart

Million-dollar commercials, glitzy halftime performances and a championship football game all come together in one of alcohol’s biggest holidays of the year. Every year, Americans prepare for Super Bowl Sunday with more than $2bn in booze sales.

Alcohol brands

Alcohol brands are making billion-dollar ecommerce mistakes

By Beth Newhart

US consumers spent $2.6bn buying alcohol online last year, but experts say it could be billions more. Alcohol ecommerce penetration is ‘abysmally low’ which Rabobank believes could have 'profound consequences' on the industry.

The Budweiser Solar Farm will produce the equivalent of power for 670,000 homes. Pic:getty/edufoto

AB InBev to brew beer with renewable electricity in Europe

By Rachel Arthur

AB InBev has signed a deal with global renewable energy developer, BayWa r.e., to purchase 100% renewable electricity for its European brewing operations. It is the largest Pan-European corporate solar power deal ever made: covering AB InBev’s 14 breweries...

Consumer appetite for hard seltzer is based on occasion and flavored refreshment, which has given the category year-round success. Pic: Getty/hiro-y

No end in sight for US hard seltzer domination

By Beth Newhart

US hard seltzer consumption is set to triple by 2023. But will consumers be able to support the stream of new launches? And can other global markets mimic the success of seltzer in the US?

Pic:getty/vitaliypestov

AB InBev relies on premium categories to realise Far East ambitions

By Richard Whitehead

Ask AB InBev chief executive Carlos Alves de Brito what was the best thing his company did to boost the world’s biggest alcohol group’s beer dominance, and he will probably tell you that it was to invest in the premium side of the market.

Mexico is the world's largest exporter of beer, but craft brewers have yet to catch up. Pic: Cerveza Mexico

Mexican craft beer looks to mimic big-brand success with exports

By Beth Newhart

At the recent Cerveza México 2019 event, it was revealed that the country’s craft beer market is nearly up to 1,400 independent breweries with a 29 million litre output. The industry relies heavily on exports to the US and Europe to keep up with annual...

Truly has recently announced a reformulation, a hard lemonade product and a sponsorship with the NHL.

Truly will be the first hard seltzer served in-flight

By Beth Newhart

In a new deal inked with JetBlue, Truly Hard Seltzer will be the first official alcoholic seltzer of a US airline. Starting this fall, the Wild Berry flavor will be available on all JetBlue flights.

Mike’s Hard Sparkling Water launches in the UK

Mike’s Hard Sparkling Water launches in the UK

By Rachel Arthur

AB InBev is launching Mike’s Hard Sparkling Water in the UK. “We’ve seen how quickly the alcoholic sparkling water market has grown in the US, and we believe now is the time to bring the trend to the UK,” says the brand.

Hoegaarden Soft Brew: 'We've seen success with existing beer drinkers at new occasions, such as lunch'. Pic: Anheuser-Busch

Hoegaarden rolls out non-alcoholic beer to the US

By Rachel Arthur

Hoegaarden’s non-alcoholic beer is expanding beyond Europe: with pilots in Rochester and Philadelphia in the US currently under way. While Europe has been leading the low and no ABV beer category, Anheuser-Busch believes the US will catch up.

Natty Light Seltzer was launched in August; while Bud Light Seltzer will follow in early 2020. Pic:Anheuser-Busch.

Bud Light seltzer to lead AB InBev’s charge in the category

By Rachel Arthur

The meteoric rise of hard seltzer in the US has drawn comparisons to the rise of craft. But there’s one key difference: seltzer will be a ‘game of big brands’ and beverage giants like AB InBev are perfectly positioned to play in the category, according...

New Australian beer shares its recipe on billboard adverts

Aussie beer shares its recipe on billboard adverts

By Rachel Arthur

Carlton & United Breweries' Pure Blonde Organic Lager is launching with a ‘disruptive marketing campaign for a disruptive new product’ – sharing its recipe on billboards across Australia.

AB InBev's Kombrewcha brand is growing the hard kombucha category.

Guest podcast - Rabobank Liquid Assets Podcast

Joining forces: How ZX Ventures and Kombrewcha work together

By Rachel Arthur

What happens after a small, Brooklyn-based drinks startup gets acquired by the biggest beer company in the world? Kombrewcha joined ZX Ventures in 2016: and this guest podcast explores how the two are working together.

AB InBev's innovation arm includes brands such as Babe Wine, HiBall Energy and Master of Malt. Pic:getty/chaiyapruek2520

Guest podcast - Rabobank Liquid Assets Podcast

ZX Ventures: Inside AB InBev's growth and innovation group

By Rabobank Liquid Assets Podcast

ZX Ventures is AB InBev's global growth and innovation group, best known as a corporate venture fund, but its role goes far beyond that. Rabobank Liquid Assets takes a look inside the group in this guest podcast.

Pic: Getty/NikiLitov

Gen X holds more potential in alcohol than millennials

By Beth Newhart

Most food and beverage categories direct their marketing strategy toward millennials and the upcoming Gen Z generations, largely disregarding everyone older than 40. Experts say it’s the wrong move.

Unique flavors and alternate aging methods are a main focus area for craft distillers in specialized cocktails.  Pic: Getty/CabecaDeMarmore

BEVERAGE FORUM 2019

A ‘complex’ consumer base challenges US alcohol

By Beth Newhart

Over the past decade, the beverage category has been defined by the millennial generation, driven by local craft brands. The 2020s are expected to be shaped by Gen Z, with further digitization of brands using smart technology.

The machines are currently available to preorder online and retail for $399.

Drinkworks Home Bar expands beyond St. Louis

By Beth Newhart

A collaboration between AB InBev and Keurig Dr Pepper is bringing its Drinkworks pilot program to new markets this spring. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig is now available statewide in Missouri and Florida.

Corn syrup is used as a common fermentation aid, and MillerCoors explains it is never in the glass, bottle, or can of Miller Lite or Coors Light that consumers drink.

MillerCoors sues AB InBev over Super Bowl ad

By Beth Newhart

Anheuser-Busch debuted a Bud Light commercial during this year’s Super Bowl that slammed Miller Lite and Coors Light for using corn syrup in their beer. MillerCoors has now filed suit against AB InBev for “false and misleading advertising.”

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