Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. volume up in 2006 thanks to imported beer brands and acquisitions

Anheuser-Busch’s sales in 2006 rose mainly because of mainstream brands such as Bud Light and the addition of smaller brands such as Rolling Rock and imports.

Anheuser-Busch, the number one brewer in the U.S., said U.S. shipments to wholesalers rose 1.2 million barrels, or 1.2 percent, to 102.3 million barrels in 2006. The company said wholesalers’ sales to retailers rose 1.1 percent for the year.

U.S. beer shipments to wholesalers fell 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter, but Anheuser-Busch attributed that decline to its decision to cut wholesaler inventories. The company said that wholesalers’ sales to retailers rose 1.6 percent in the quarter.

Thanks to some clever match-making, Anheuser-Busch has been able to capitalise on the growing popularity of imported and craft beers, which, along with wine and spirits, have taken market share from domestic beers. Some of the moves Anheuser-Busch has made in the past year included buying Rolling Rock from InBev, and reaching deals to exclusively import and distribute Dutch brewer Grolsch NV’s beers in the U.S. and exclusively import Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd.’s Tiger beer.

In fact, the newly acquired brands contributed almost 50 percent of growth to both 2006 shipments and wholesaler sales to retailers.

Anheuser-Busch will release worldwide beer volume and earnings figures for the fourth quarter and year on 1 February 2007.