Anheuser-Busch And Governor Scott Break Ground On Aluminum Bottle Line In Jacksonville

$175 Million Investment Will Create 75 Jobs, Expand Production of Popular Bottle

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (March 31, 2016) – Anheuser-Busch today broke ground on a $175 million aluminum bottle line at its Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility in Jacksonville, Fla. As part of the company's plan to increase production of the popular Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles, the project will create approximately 75 new jobs at the facility.

“Since it launched in early 2014, the aluminum bottle has become overwhelmingly popular with beer drinkers, and we are proud to break ground on a new line in Jacksonville that will further expand production of the popular bottles, while adding jobs,” said Dave Taylor, president, MCC. “The innovative, high-demand aluminum bottles will be enjoyed by fans as the 2016 baseball season and the busy spring and summer beer-selling seasons begin.”

Anheuser-Busch first began producing the aluminum bottles in 2013. Jacksonville will be the second MCC facility to produce them. Anheuser-Busch has also operated a brewery in Jacksonville since 1969.

“Anheuser-Busch and MCC are proud to be part of the Jacksonville community and employ hundreds of Floridians in the Sunshine State, and we thank our local community leaders and elected officials, as this expansion project was only made possible because of an incentive program in collaboration with the State of Florida and City of Jacksonville,” said Bryan Sullivan, Jacksonville plant manager, MCC. “Having done business in the State of Florida for 50 years, Anheuser-Busch looks forward to seeing this new aluminum bottle line come to fruition.”

Florida Governor Rick Scott joined Anheuser-Busch and MCC employees at the groundbreaking today to celebrate the expansion project and the addition of new jobs to the Jacksonville community.

Governor Scott said, “Manufacturers like Anheuser-Busch are incredibly important to our state, and I am excited to join them in celebrating their ongoing expansion project and the creation of 75 new jobs. We have cut taxes more than 55 times since 2010, including permanently eliminating the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment, which has saved Florida families and job creators $5.5 billion. By cutting taxes, we are sending a message across the country that Florida is the best place to succeed, and we will continue to do all we can to make Florida first for jobs.”

In addition to Governor Scott joining Anheuser-Busch and MCC employees at the groundbreaking event today were numerous community leaders and elected officials, including Jacksonville City Council President Greg Anderson, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Brown, Representative Reggie Fullwood (D-Jacksonville), Senator Audrey Gibson (R-Jacksonville), Representative Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville), Representative Lake Ray (R-Jacksonville), Representative Cyndi Stevenson (R-St. Johns), and Director of the Office of Economic Development of the City of Jacksonville Kirk Wendland.

Metal Container Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, operates seven facilities in the U.S. The operation also produces cans and lids for major U.S. soft drink companies, including PepsiCo. and Monster Beverage Corporation.

[caption id="attachment_3591494" align="alignnone" width="610"] Anheuser-Busch first introduced the aluminum bottles in 2013. The Jacksonville location will be the second Metal Container Corporation facility to produce them. (PRI Productions/ Matt Oistacher)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3591495" align="alignnone" width="610"] Bryan Sullivan, Jacksonville plant manager of Metal Container Corporation delivers opening remarks at Anheuser-Busch groundbreaking ceremony. (PRI Productions/ Matt Oistacher)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3591496" align="alignnone" width="610"] Governor Rick Scott accepts plaque from Jacksonville plant manager Bryan Sullivan commemorating Anheuser-Busch groundbreaking ceremony. (PRI Productions/ Matt Oistacher)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3591497" align="alignnone" width="610"] Florida Governor Rick Scott and Anheuser-Busch Metal Container Corporation employees break ground on the new aluminum bottling line in Jacksonville. (From left) Dave Taylor, president, Metal Container Corp.; Garrett Dennis, Jacksonville City Council; Senator Audrey Gibson, Florida State Senate; Governor Rick Scott; Greg Anderson, Jacksonville City Council President; Bryan Sullivan, Jacksonville plant manager, Metal Container Corp.; Aaron Bowman, Jacksonville City Council; Reginald Brown, Jacksonville City Council. (PRI Productions/ Matt Oistacher)[/caption]

ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch and its world-class brewmasters have carried on a legacy of brewing America's most-popular beers. Starting with the finest ingredients sourced from Anheuser-Busch's family of growers, every batch is crafted using the same exacting standards and time-honored traditions passed down through generations of proud Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and employees. Best known for its fine American-style lagers, Budweiser and Bud Light, the company's beers lead numerous beer segments. Budweiser and Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita were named Brands of the Year for the Beer and the Spirits, Malt Beverages and Wine categories, respectively, by Ace Metrix® in 2014.  Anheuser-Busch is the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev and operates 19 local breweries, 21 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the United States. The company committed to investing more than $1.5 billion in its U.S. brewing, agriculture, packaging and distributing operations by 2018. Its flagship brewery remains in St. Louis, Mo., and is among the global company's largest and most technologically-capable breweries. Visitor and special beermaster tours are available at its St. Louis and five other Anheuser-Busch breweries. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.