UK: AB InBev UK targets 100% British barley use by 2020

AB InBev now sources three quarters of its barley for UK-brewed Budweiser – the UK’s second biggest beer brand behind Stella Artois - from British farms thanks to its “Bud Farmers” innovative, the Drinks International reported on July 6.

The programme has improved UK farming practices and crop yields through the introduction of new barley seeds, such as the Explorer grain, which helps barley to grow in parts of the country previously unsuitable for this type of crop.

This has enabled AB InBev to scale up the amount of barley grown in the UK from 0 to 75% in four years.

Jason Warner, president of AB InBev UK & Ireland said: “Developing a British supply chain is good for farmers, good for the environment and good for our business.

“I’m proud to see that our Bud Farmers programme is boosting British agriculture and that we are helping farmers to increase and improve barley yields.”

AB InBev produces more than 17 mln bottles and cans of Budweiser each week in the UK at its two breweries in Magor in south Wales and Samlesbury in Lancashire.

The scale of this production means that tens of thousands of tonnes of barley is needed each year to brew British Budweiser.

The development of new varieties of grain has helped British farms grow barley that can withstand damaging weeds like black-grass, which can reduce wheat and barley crop yields.

Since 2014, the programme has grown the amount of British barley used in Budweiser to 75% and increased the average number of acres of Budweiser barley from 62 to 173 (+111%).

In the last year alone, the number of participating farmers has grown from 147 to 257 and AB InBev has committed to expand its farms further, aiming to reach 100% of British barley by 2020.

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