Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev’s) announced last week it will invest over $1 billion US to enhance its manufacturing facilities over the next two years, in hopes of increasing production of hard seltzers which is proving to be on the rise in the market.

Currently one of the hottest trends for consumers across the United States, sales have almost doubled each year since 2016, and further accelerated during the COVID-19 lockdowns as people spent more time drinking at home than out at restaurants and bars. 

“We need to build more seltzer capacity so we can attend to the demand from consumers, which is a growing demand,” said Anheuser-Busch, Chief Executive Officer Michel Doukeris.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is the largest subsidiary of the Belgium-based brewer in the United States and said it would invest nearly $400 million into 12 major breweries in 2021, while another $100 million would be used to fund environmental sustainability projects.

The company is also looking to spend an additional $100 million towards can-manufacturing lines. AB InBev will look at shipping more single-use cans and bottles and fewer kegs with recyclable glass-bottles to bars and restaurants.