This company profile of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) exposes the practices of the world’s largest beer producer. It highlights examples of the company’s strategies of political interference, promotion, sabotage, manipulation, and deception, known as the Dubious Five strategies

Introduction

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) was formed in 2008 through the merger of InBev and Anheuser-Busch, combining two of the world’s largest brewers. Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, AB InBev is listed on Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, it operates in over 50 countries and holds the position of the world’s largest beer producer, with a portfolio that spans global, local, and no-alcohol brands. Michel Doukeris has been the Chief Executive Officer since July 2021.

AB InBev is a beer giant created by multiple take-overs of competitors:

  • AB InBev was formed through the Belgian InBev acquiring the American company Anheuser-Busch.
  • InBev itself was a beer giant created by the merger of Belgium-based Interbrew and Brazilian beer giant AmBev in 2004. It existed independently until the take-over by Anheuser-Busch in 2008, which formed Anheuser-Busch InBev.
    • The beer giant became the largest beer producer in the world.
  • AB InBev took over its main competitor SABMiller in October 2016. At the time SABMiller was the second largest beer brewer worldwide by revenue.
    • The new “beerhemoth” controls more than 500 beer brands sold in over 150 countries. Their international brands include Beck’s, Stella Artois, Brahmas, Budweiser, Corona, Leffe and Hoegaarden.
  • Anheuser-Busch InBev generated global revenue of over $59 billion in 2023. This was an increase over the $57 billion dollars in revenue in 2022. 

Our biggest opportunity is in the beer category, which is inclusive, natural, and local. We want to move from being the category leader to leading category growth.”

– AB InBev Annual Report 2021 

Fast Facts about AB InBev

  • Total revenue (2023): USD59.4 Billion
  • Net profit (2023): USD20.0 Billion
  • Marketing spending (2023): USD7.2 Billion
  • Lobbying spending (US, 2022): USD5,100,000
  • Lobbying spending (EU, 2022): EUR300,000–399,999
  • Total volume beer sold (2023): 518 Million hl
  • Global beer market share (2023): 27.4%
  • Number of employees (2023): 169,000
  • Worldwide operations: 50 countrie

Brands

Local megabrands

  • Aguila
  • Brahma
  • Carling Black Label
  • Cass Fresh
  • Jupiler
  • Quilmes
  • Skol
  • Victoria

Global brands

  • Stella Artois
  • Budweiser
  • Corona Extra
  • Michelob ULTRA

No-alcohol

  • Budweiser Zero
  • Corona 0.0
  • Stella Artois Liberté

Ready-to-drink (RTD)

  • Brutal Fruit
  • Cutware
  • Nütrl

MANAGEMENT TEAM AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Martin J. Barrington, Board Chair
  • Lynne Biggar, Director
  • Michele Burns, Director
  • Dr. Aradhana Sarin, Director
  • Dirk Van de Put, Director
  • Sabine Chalmers, Director
  • Paul Cornet de Ways Ruart, Director
  • Claudio Moniz Barreto Garcia, Director
  • Paulo Alberto Lemann, Director
  • Nitin Nohria, Director
  • Alexandre van Damme, Director
  • Alejandro Santo Domingo Dávila, Director
  • Michel Doukeris, President and Chief Executive Officer

front groups

Interfering in policy and science AB InBev front groups are designed to advance long-term public relations goals to interfere in both policy and science.  Source

Unethical practices by AB InBev

Misconduct Report Nov 12 '25
Big Alcohol Under Pressure: Falling Profits, Failing Strategies

Falling sales, rising health consciousness, and growing awareness of alcohol’s harms are exposing deep flaws in Big Alcohol’s business ...
Misconduct Report Oct 13 '25 Promotion
Fifteen Minutes to Harm: AB InBev’s New Delivery Scheme Raises Alarms in Brazil

In a striking escalation of its commercial strategy, AB InBev (through its Brazilian subsidiary Ambev) has unveiled a new “Modo Turbo” ...
Misconduct Report Oct 9 '25 Promotion
Beer Marketing by Stealth – Ambev Turns Netflix Content into Marketing in Brazil

Imagine sitting down with your family to relax and watch a new series on Netflix. What you might not realise is that a beer company could ...
Misconduct Report Sep 22 '25 Sabotage
AB InBev Facing Fraud Probe in South Korea Over Alleged Tax Evasion and Shell Company Scheme

AB InBev, the world’s largest beer producer, is facing serious allegations of misconduct – this time in South Korea. Its local ...
Misconduct Report Sep 17 '25 Deception, Manipulation
AB InBev Embeds Itself in São Paulo’s Health System

A tool used in São Paulo – Modera SP – is presented as a public health innovation to help people reflect on their alcohol use. ...
Misconduct Report Sep 15 '25
Cheap Beer, High Cost: How Colombia’s Beer Industry Endangers Youth and Blocks Public Health Progress

Colombia’s beer industry is flooding communities with ultra-cheap alcohol while blocking life-saving public health measures. Bavaria and ...