COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 5, 2008) – The Vietnam War and Apollo 8 orbit around the moon will forever etch 1968 in world history. But on a smaller scale, the year was significant for the U.S. brewing industry, too.

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. had established itself as the industry leader for 12 years running, brewing and packaging 18.4 million barrels and claiming 16 percent market share.

In the heart of Ohio, Anheuser-Busch was also making headlines. Prompted by growing demand for Budweiser, Michelob and Busch beers, the company opened a new $40 million, 1.7-million barrel brewery in Columbus.

It was hailed as “the most modern brewery in the world.” High speed, automatic can and bottle lines could package 1,000 cans or 700 bottles of beer per minute for thirsty consumers in the Buckeye state and neighboring states.

Then Governor James A. Rhodes surveyed the brewery’s 11 buildings on 255 acres on Schrock Road and declared “…this is where the action is. This is what makes us ever more determined to continue our drive for new and expanded industry to meet Ohio’s greatest need—full employment for our labor force.”

Today, four decades later, Anheuser‑Busch continues to fulfill that promise. The brewery employs 850 people, and combined with its subsidiaries and independent wholesalers, Anheuser-Busch spends approximately $386.6 million annually in Ohio for materials and supplies, and pays approximately $13.7 million in state and local taxes.

“All of us at the Anheuser-Busch brewery are very proud to call Columbus our home for the past 40 years,” said plant manager Kevin Lee. “We’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with civic leaders, local businesses and our customers here and throughout the Buckeye state. We’d like to offer a Budweiser toast to all of our friends in Ohio to 40 great years and for another 40 years.”

Life has been good for Anheuser-Busch in Ohio and nationwide over the past four decades. Last year, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. sold 104.4 million barrels in the U.S. alone and claimed 48.5 percent domestic market share.

Investment in the brewery
The Columbus brewery has changed face since it first opened in 1968. A $6 million expansion increased the original capacity from 1.7 million barrels to 2.6 million barrels in 1969. In 1974, a $56 million expansion raised capacity to 4.7 million barrels and two years later, a $30 million expansion brought total plant capacity to 6.4 million barrels. Modernizations continued through the 1980s to increase capacity.

The company continues to look to the future, investing more than $500 million in the Columbus brewery since the mid-1990s to expand and modernize brewing and packaging processes. A high-density storage and automated warehousing system has been in operation for 10 years and packaging lines have been fine-tuned to a point where each now turns out approximately 2,000 cans and 1,200 bottles per minute.

Forty years and four expansions later, the brewery’s employees proudly brew and package approximately 10.1 million barrels of beer annually. The roster of brands made here has grown from three to 13, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, Michelob Light, Natural Light, Natural Ice, Busch Light, Busch NA, O’Doul’s and O’Doul’s Amber.

“If there is a common theme over the last 40 years it is that our company continues to reinvest profits back into the brewery, into our employees and into this community,” said Lee. “The brewing industry and our company have changed dramatically since 1968, and our employees adapted to this change, continually educated themselves and embraced new technology to help this brewery keep pace with brewers worldwide. They have risen to every challenge, be it a major expansion or a minor change in packaging.”

Flexibility has been the name of the game for the Columbus brewery. For years it was one of a few “swing” plants within the Anheuser-Busch 12-brewery system, meaning that output fluctuates both in the amount and the different brands produced. Today the brewery manages more than 312 SKUs (stock keeping units).

High Tech, High Touch
Technology has undoubtedly changed in 40 years, but the Columbus brewery has held true to the uncompromising Budweiser brewing process. And while the latest in technology has been installed at this brewery, employees keep their hand on the pulse continuously.

“Our employees take pride in our quality brewing tradition at Columbus,” said Kevin Fahrenkrog, resident brewmaster. “We use the same time-honored brewing process that has been passed down for generations of Anheuser-Busch brewers. We still use Beechwood aging and kraeusening, which allows Budweiser to naturally carbonate. It takes a little longer, but the results are well worth it.

“Technological advances in the brewing process have only added to our ability to produce consistently high-quality beers,” said Fahrenkrog. “Our brewmasters taste all incoming raw materials—including grains, hops and water—every day. We taste the product along each step of the brewing process to guarantee our customers only the highest-quality, consistent-tasting beer.”

While brewing and packaging records have tumbled over the years, the Columbus brewery continues to be one of the country’s safest plants. The National Safety Council (NSC) recognized the brewery with its “Occupational Excellence Achievement” award and the Ohio Governor’s Council cited the Columbus brewery with the “Healthy Ohioans Silver Worksite” award, recognizing employers that demonstrate a commitment to employee health by incorporating comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs.

“We emphasize safety in everything we do here in Columbus with the goal that our employees leave work in the same healthy condition as they arrived at the beginning of their shifts,” said Lee.

Investment in the community
Anheuser-Busch has a storied history of making itself at home in communities where it does business, putting down roots and encouraging employees to become involved in civic and community activities.

Over the past 40 years, the Anheuser-Busch Columbus brewery has become an integral part of the local economy and community. Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of the Columbus brewery, and its charitable foundation have contributed more than $1.5 million to the Columbus community over the past five years alone.

The Anheuser-Busch Foundation pledged a $100,000 donation over two years in 2006 to Goodwill Columbus for that organization’s capital campaign to support the renovation and reconfiguration of the current Goodwill facility.

This year marks the 25th year that Anheuser-Busch partnered with the Columbus Urban League for its Operation Brightside program. As part of that program, the brewery donates more than $60,000 each year to fund employment and career development for area students.

Some other local charities and institutions supported include the United Way, Boy Scouts, Columbus Jewish Federation, St. Stephen’s Community House, The Ohio State University and Franklin University. For their part, employees participate in scores of local fund-raising events including United Community Care Day, “Pedal for Pete,” Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, the Scioto River Clean-up and “Commit to be Fit” Run.

“We take pride in the contributions our individual employees have made to the community. Anheuser-Busch believes that giving back and re-investing in our community is one of our most important roles as a major employer and corporate partner,” said Lee, who serves on three community boards, including the Boy Scouts of America, Villas of St. Therese and Columbus Urban League.

“Generations of brewery employees have supported their families by working here, and with their diligent effort, we'll continue to make a positive contribution to the Columbus community for the next four decades and beyond," said Lee. “We pride ourselves on being a stable employer and a good neighbor that supports other area businesses whenever possible. This is what we will strive for during the next 40 years, as well.”

Columbus employees, past and present, will commemorate the brewery’s 40th anniversary at a family picnic at the North Side brewery grounds on Sept. 14. The Budweiser Clydesdales, as well as a number of local celebrities, are scheduled to take part in the festivities. Additional details on the anniversary event will be announced later this summer.