By Lisa Beilfuss
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV on Tuesday announced plans to invest
about $1.5 billion in its U.S. operations over the next three
years, as the world's largest brewer moves to shore up its domestic
sales.
The move comes months after the company said it would cut an
undisclosed number of jobs in the U.S. Anheuser-Busch also
consolidated its sales force and reduced its number of sales
regions.
On Tuesday, it said about half of the new spending will help
fund brewery and packaging expansion projects, with most of the
remainder going toward efficiency efforts.
The company said several efforts in the U.S. are under way,
including a $150 million expansion project in St. Louis, where it
is based, and a $11 million campaign to develop new products such
as Bud Light Mixxtails.
The brewer has been stung by sluggish U.S. sales in key brands
like Budweiser and Bud Light. Strong sales abroad, particularly in
Brazil, China, Argentina and Chile, have helped offset declining
domestic sales.
U.S. beer drinkers have increasingly demanded craft-beer
options, and in January Anheuser-Busch bought Seattle-based Elysian
Brewing Co.----its fourth craft-brewery acquisition in five
years.
In May, the company said a derivatives gain pushed its
first-quarter profit sharply higher, helping offset weak U.S.
results and the impact of a strong dollar on revenue from the rest
of its global beer empire.
Write to Lisa Beilfuss at lisa.beilfuss@wsj.com
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