AB InBev's goal: non-alcoholic beers contribute 20 % by 2025

AB InBev hopes 20 % of its beer volume in 2025 will come from non-alcoholic beverages or beverages with low levels of alcohol. CEO Carlos Brito revealed the forecast during its annual general assembly of shareholders.

“Responsible use of alcohol”

This is a remarkable move for the world’s largest brewer, but it fits the “responsible use of alcohol” strategy the Belgium-based beer giant has focused on for quite a while. There is no global overview of the company’s percentage at this point, but it does have numbers for several countries: 2.1 % of the Belgian market consists of beers with a low level of alcohol (or none at all), while it is 10.4 % in Germany and even 17.7 % in Spain. There is definitely room to grow, the company said yesterday.

The Netherlands have already followed that trend, as the non-alcoholic beer sales there have grown 27 % in 2015, which means the sales growth has almost doubled compared to the year before.

100 billion dollars by 2020

Brito also repeated the group’s desire to reach a 100 billion dollar turnover by 2020. Last year, AB InBev’s turnover reached 43.6 billion dollars, but if competitor SABMiller‘s turnover is included, the new merger company would reach 64 billion dollars – although the acquisition deal still has to get approved.

The CEO says he will focus on organic or internal growth right now, but a small group within the company’s ranks is still browsing for external growth opportunities or acquisitions. “If we see an opportunity, that fits our strategic path and is rightly priced, then we have to consider it”, the company said. Even though it will focus on finalizing its SABMiller deal, Brito pointed out that any possible acquisition would probably be in the beer market.