4 March 2020– Diageo Ireland and Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, a proud part of AB InBev, have enjoyed a fruitful and effective relationship in Ireland for many years during which time Diageo Ireland has brewed, marketed and distributed some of Budweiser Brewing Group’s beers, including Budweiser and Bud Light, on the island of Ireland.
Together the two companies have grown Budweiser into one of Ireland’s leading beer brands and have built the foundations for future success.
Over time the respective business priorities of Diageo Ireland and Budweiser Brewing Group have evolved and together we have made a mutual decision to end the relationship in Ireland when the current contract concludes on 30 June 2020.
From 1 July, the sale and distribution of Budweiser Brewing Group’s beers will move to C&C Group and until then, it is business as usual with Diageo Ireland continuing to brew, market and sell Budweiser and Bud Light in Ireland.
Speaking about the decision, Diageo Ireland Country Director Oliver Loomes said: “Budweiser Brewing Group and their team have been fantastic partners over the years and I am proud of the work we have done together to build Budweiser into one of the most successful beer brands in Ireland. We will of course continue to brew, market and distribute Budweiser until the end of June and wish the team at Budweiser Brewing Group the very best in the future as they forge ahead with their plans.”
Paula Lindenberg, President, Budweiser Brewing Group said: “We are proud of all that we have achieved together with Diageo and are looking forward to an exciting next chapter with C&C. As we look to the future, we’ll be working closely to ensure a smooth transition to our customers, and we are hugely grateful to Diageo for a positive working relationship over the years.”
ENDS
For further information contact:
Shane Finnegan at Aiken PR on shane@aikenpr.com or 07764534565
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
About Diageo Ireland
Our success is built on a rich Irish heritage. From the founding of the Guinness brewery in 1759 to the creation of Baileys four decades ago, our beer, liqueur and spirits brands are made with the finest ingredients and represent the best Ireland has to offer.
About Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I is the trading name of AB InBev UK Limited, a subsidiary of Anheuser–Busch InBev, a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ABI) and South Africa (JSE: ANB) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I remains a proud part of AB InBev globally. In the UK, Budweiser Brewing Group employs1,000 people in our three breweries in Magor, South Wales, Samlesbury,Lancashire and Enfield, North London and in our local headquarters in Central London.
We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest natural ingredients. We are proud to offer the UK’s leading premium beer and cider brands, including global brands Budweiser®,Corona® and Stella Artois®; international brands Bud Light®, Michelob Ultra®,Beck’s®, Leffe®, and Hoegaarden®; and local champions Bass® and Boddingtons®.
Our Dream is to bring people together for a better world.Learn more at: www.budweiserbrewinggroup.co.ukor on Twitter through @BudBrewingUKI
For more information about Anheuser–Busch InBev, please visitwww.ABInBev.com.
FAQs
Budweiser is moving Irish production from the Dublin home of Guinness to the UK as part of a distribution deal with Bulmers cider maker C&C. C&C said it was acquiring rights to market the Budweiser Brewing Group's two key assets in Ireland - Budweiser and Bud Light - from Guinness parent Diageo.
What is the difference between Budweiser UK and US? ›
Yes, a Bud original in the UK is only 4.5% abv, whereas in the US it's at least 5%. In the UK, it tastes like drinking cereal, much like a German lager with a hay, malty aftertaste. US Bud/Bud Light is crispier, not in a 10oz bottle, and leagues apart.
Who distributes Budweiser in Ireland? ›
Drinks group C&C has strengthened its partnership with the Budweiser Brewing Group as the company becomes the exclusive distributor of Budweiser on the island of Ireland from this week. BBG's products also include Stella Artois, Beck's, Corona, Leffe and Hoegaarden.
What country owns Budweiser Anheuser-Busch? ›
American Budweiser is produced by Anheuser-Busch Inbev that is a Belgian headquartered company. There is also a Czech beer called Budvar but that brewery wasn't established until around 20 years after Adolphus Busch started to brew Budweiser in St. Louis.
Is Budweiser still American owned? ›
The maker of Bud, of course, is no longer an American company. Early this century, major shareholders in what was then Anheuser-Busch began pressing the ruling Busch family to sell the firm, the roots of which stretched to the 1860s. Its stock wasn't doing well, and the world's bigger breweries were consolidating.
Why is Coors popular in Ireland? ›
Commenting on the brand refresh, Marketing Director of HEINEKEN Ireland Wojciech Bogusz, said; 'Coors has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years and is now Ireland's 2nd largest lager brand, known for being a great tasting beer that always delivers on refreshment.
Is UK beer stronger than US beer? ›
Typically, an IPA brewed in the US can reach up to 7% ABV while in the UK you're more likely to see them lodged between 5% and 6.5% ABV. But in reality, there are no rules.
Why are there two Budweisers? ›
The Czech brewery had been producing its own Budweiser since 1895, and the similarities in the name led to inevitable clashes. Over the years, both companies have sought legal rulings in numerous countries to determine who has the right to use the Budweiser name. In recent years, the dispute has intensified.
Why is there no Budweiser in Germany? ›
Germany: In Germany, Budvar has had exclusive control over the Budweiser brand name since May 2009. UK: In the UK, courts have ruled that neither company has exclusive rights to the name Budweiser.
Is Budweiser Diageo? ›
BUDWEISER has announced it will end its long-running Irish distribution deal with Diageo. The contract involved Diageo Ireland brewing, marketing and distributing some of Budweiser Brewing Group's beers, including Budweiser and Bud Light, on the island.
The Busch family fully controlled the company through the generations until Anheuser-Busch's sale to InBev in 2008.
Is Guinness owned by Budweiser? ›
Guinness (/ˈɡɪnɪs/) is a stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland, in the 18th century. It is now owned by the British-based multinational alcoholic beverage maker Diageo.
When did China buy Anheuser-Busch? ›
That operation merged with Belgian giant Interbrew in 2004 to create InBev, which then obtained America's largest brewer, St. Louis's Anheuser-Busch, in 2008 in a stunning $52 billion deal. The new AB InBev outdid itself last year by paying $103 billion for rival SABMiller.
Is Coors owned by Anheuser-Busch? ›
Budweiser is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is a multinational beverage and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. Coors Light is owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company, which is a multinational brewing company based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Are there any American-owned beer companies? ›
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company of Chico, California, Duvel Moortgat USA of Paso Robles, California, Kansas City, Missouri, and Cooperstown, New York. Gambrinus Company of San Antonio, Texas (which owns the Shiner, Texas-based Spoetzl Brewery and produces Shiner Beer).
Can you get Budweiser in Ireland? ›
C&C is to become the exclusive distributor for Budweiser and Bud Light in Ireland from July, taking over from drinks giant Diageo.
What is the most popular beer in Ireland? ›
Guinness. Guinness, the world's best selling Irish beer, has origins that trace back to 1759. Made from roasted barley, hops, yeast and water, Guinness stout appears black in color, but the company states the official color is a dark ruby.
Is Budweiser popular in Ireland? ›
Stout brewed by Guinness (and the smaller brewers Murphy's and Beamish) once dominated domestic beer consumption in Ireland, with lager and ale having much smaller shares. Lager has subsequently grown in popularity with Carlsberg taking 8% of the market and Budweiser 7% in 2014.
Who brews Coors Light in Ireland? ›
Our Company - Heineken Ireland.
