Anheuser-Busch Announces Support for On-Premise Recovery and Reopening

From Anheuser-Busch:

Brewer Partners with the National Restaurant Association to Bolster Safe Return to the On-Premise for Businesses and Consumers

July 1, 2020 – Anheuser-Busch, America’s leading beer company, is today reaffirming its commitment to the restaurant and bar industry, its workers and consumers. The company has a long-standing tradition of lifting up neighbors, communities and partners in times of need throughout its 165-year history.

To support the strong, safe and successful reopening of restaurants and bars across the country, Anheuser-Busch has joined the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Revival Campaign as the exclusive beer partner. Through a national advertising campaign, Anheuser-Busch’s Stella Artois and the National Restaurant Association will invite diners back into restaurants when it is safe to do so and encourage restaurants to sign the ServSafe Dining Commitment, a program aimed at giving consumers confidence that the operation is following recommended reopening guidance and is ready for business. The company has also committed $2.25 million, in cash and ad-time, to support this program through Stella Artois, one of the brewer’s top on-premise brands.

“We created the Dining Commitment for operators to reassure customers that they are taking defined steps to keep diners and the restaurant’s employees safe,” said Sherman Brown, Executive Vice President, Training and Certification for the National Restaurant Association. “We are grateful that Anheuser-Busch has joined us to welcome customers back into restaurants with the peace of mind that their restaurant adheres to the ServSafe Dining Commitment.”

“We are honored to do our part and play an active role in supporting bars and restaurants as they work to safely reopen – they are the heart and soul of our industry and their recovery is vital to our long-term national economic outlook,” said Michel Doukeris, CEO, Anhueser-Busch. “We are in the business of bringing people together, and we are looking forward to celebrating the moments that matter – together – at our favorite neighborhood bars and restaurants very soon.”

Anheuser-Busch is helping to support the broader hospitality industry on a variety of fronts, including initiatives to support its wholesalers and retail partners. The company has extended date codes on some draught and packaged beer and shared the cost of recovering and disposing of expired product to relieve the pressure resulting from increased and expired inventory. Return to Business resources have also been made available to the wholesaler and retailer network including digital menu recommendations, hand sanitizer, cotton face coverings, LED ‘Open’ signs, window clings and social distancing floor decals.

“Anheuser Busch’s support of the on premise has been tremendous. Their support reached all three tiers of our industry, from the co-op of out of code draught and on-premise package to helping retailers with signage and digital menu options to make the customer experience as safe as possible,” said Steve Economos, Chairman of the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Panel, from Eagle Rock Distributing Company in Norcross, Georgia. “Anheuser-Busch was also willing to participate with Eagle Rock on a local charity to support workers of on-premise establishments. Working alongside one another throughout the entire pandemic has paid dividends for our company, and we could not have done it without the help of Anheuser-Busch.”  

Several Anheuser-Busch brands are also supporting the bar and restaurant industry, including:

• “Bud Light: Certified Fresh” is an initiative where we and our distributor partners replace any Bud Light that is past its ‘best before’ date at no cost to restaurants and bars, to ensure that when people can safely leave their homes, they are greeted with the freshest tasting, highest quality Bud Light possible. 
• Budweiser released a new spot entitled “Reunited with Buds” to encourage consumers to follow guidelines set by the CDC, local governments and individual establishments when reuniting with friends as bars across the country prepare to reopen.
  

• Our craft brewery partners across the country are working with restaurant/hospitality associations on the local level, to help support economic recovery in their own backyard.

“As we work towards reopening, it has been vital that we have all the tools and resources available to make the space safe for our guests and employees,” said David Greenwood, Karbach Brewing Co. general manager. “Throughout this challenging time, we’ve felt prepared and supported in our reopening efforts thanks to our partnership with Anheuser-Busch.”

“Anheuser-Busch is committed to helping lead a safe and strong recovery of our industry and our economy,” said Doukeris. “We have always stood by neighborhood bars and restaurants and we are proud to build on that legacy by stepping up and providing support as we work towards reopening this vibrant community.”

To learn more about Anheuser-Busch’s efforts to reopen and reignite the industry, click here.

ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH

For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.