Anheuser-Busch invests $20M in Michelob Ultra production in bet on beer rebound

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-06-17. The Bud Light owner will upgrade brewery and packaging equipment at facilities across Missouri after executives expressed optimism that the worst is over for the industry.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. AB InBev’s Anheuser-Busch will invest $20 million in its flagship St. Louis brewery and a Missouri can plant to produce its top-selling beer brand Michelob Ultra. The beer giant said the funding will go toward upgrading brewery and packaging equipment at the St. Louis brewery and a can plant in the suburb of Arnold.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. The project is the first to be announced since Anheuser-Busch said it would double its investment in U.S. manufacturing to $600 million. Bud Light owner AB InBev is investing to maintain its top position in beer as it outperforms the rest of the alcohol industry, which is struggling with a decline in consumption and a shift to nonalcoholic alternatives.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. Michelob Ultra became the top selling beer by volume last fall, posting strong results alongside Busch Light. Both brands were the top two volume share gainers in the first quarter, executives said.