Anheuser-Busch Delivers Canned Water to Assist Gulf Coast Following Tropical Storm Ida

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 10, 2009) – Anheuser-Busch is providing 2,000 cases — or approximately 48,000 cans of drinking water — for use by Gulf Coast residents affected by the landfall Tuesday of Tropical Storm Ida.

The water arrived this morning at 6 a.m. to the local Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, Rex Distributing in Gulfport, Miss.  Rex Distributing will work closely with the Red Cross and local emergency services to distribute the water to residents affected by the storm.

“It’s important for communities to pull together and lend a helping hand, and Anheuser-Busch is proud to provide drinking water to these people in need,” said Peter Kraemer, vice president of Supply for Anheuser-Busch.  “Our company has a long and valued relationship with our friends throughout the Gulf Coast region, so we felt this is one way we could assist the region in its time of need.”

In 2008, Anheuser-Busch and its distributors provided a total of 165,354 cases — or more than 3.9 million cans — of packaged drinking water to victims of natural disasters.  These included wild fires in California; hurricanes in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas and Midwest flooding in Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than 67.5 million cans of drinking water following natural disasters.

“Anheuser-Busch is in a unique position to provide water to those in need.  Few corporations have the infrastructure to package beverages and distribute them quickly to local wholesalers,” Kraemer said.  “When a natural disaster strikes, very simply put, we have a responsibility to package and provide water to our neighbors, and we’re proud to do so.”

Helping communities cope with natural disasters has been an Anheuser-Busch tradition since 1906 when Adolphus Busch made a donation to victims of the San Francisco earthquake.  Today, in addition to providing monetary support, Anheuser-Busch packages fresh drinking water and donates it to emergency relief organizations for distribution to those in need. 

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser‑Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 percent share of U.S. beer sales.  The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light.  Anheuser‑Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer.  Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009.  Anheuser‑Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans.  The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.  For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.