Anheuser-Busch Reports Increased US Beer Volume in 2007

    Anheuser-Busch Reports Increased U.S. Beer Volume in 2007

    ST. LOUIS, Jan. 7 -- Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the U.S. beer subsidiary of 
Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc., increased U.S. shipments to wholesalers to 104.4 
million barrels in 2007 -- up 2.1 million barrels or 2 percent over 2006, 
it was announced today by Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. president and chief 
executive officer, August A. Busch IV.
    "Anheuser-Busch achieved increased shipments in 2007 due to the success of 
our initiatives to broaden the company's beer portfolio, including the 
addition of InBev European brands," said Busch.  Wholesaler sales-to-retailers 
grew 1.3 percent for the full year.  Acquired and import brands contributed 
170 basis points of growth to shipments and 160 points to wholesaler  
sales-to-retailers for the full year.
    For the fourth quarter 2007 wholesaler sales-to-retailers were up  
1.3 percent, on a selling day adjusted basis.  The fourth quarter of 2007 had 
one more selling day than the fourth quarter of 2006.  U.S. beer shipments to 
wholesalers increased 3.4 percent in the same timeframe.  Shipments to 
wholesalers are not selling day adjusted.  Import brands contributed 230 basis 
points of growth to shipments and 180 points of growth to wholesaler  
sales-to-retailers for the quarter.  Wholesaler inventories at year-end were 
approximately the same as year-end 2006.  
    "Our expanded beer portfolio along with our enhanced marketing and sales 
strategies to accelerate core beer sales position Anheuser-Busch for growth in 
volume and earnings in 2008," concluded Busch.
    Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. will announce worldwide beer volume and 
consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year 2007 on 
Jan. 31, 2008.

    This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's 
expectations concerning its future operations, earnings and prospects. On the 
date the forward-looking statements are made, the statements represent the 
company's expectations, but the company's expectations concerning its future 
operations, earnings and prospects may change. The company's expectations 
involve risks and uncertainties (both favorable and unfavorable) and are based 
on many assumptions that the company believes to be reasonable, but such 
assumptions may ultimately prove to be inaccurate or incomplete, in whole or 
in part. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that the company's 
expectations and the forward-looking statements will be correct. Important 
factors that could cause actual results to differ (favorably or unfavorably) 
from the expectations stated in this release include, among others, changes in 
the pricing environment for the company's products; changes in U.S. demand for 
malt beverage products, including changes in U.S. demand for other alcohol 
beverages; changes in consumer preference for the company's malt beverage 
products; changes in the distribution for the company's malt beverage 
products; changes in the cost of marketing the company's malt beverage 
products; regulatory or legislative changes, including changes in beer excise 
taxes at either the federal or state level and changes in income taxes; 
changes in the litigation to which the company is a party; changes in raw 
materials prices; changes in packaging materials costs; changes in energy 
costs; changes in the financial condition of the company's suppliers; changes 
in interest rates; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; unusual weather 
conditions that could impact beer consumption in the U.S.; changes in 
attendance and consumer spending patterns for the company's theme park 
operations; changes in demand for aluminum beverage containers; changes in the 
company's international beer business or in the beer business of the company's 
international equity partners; changes in the economies of the countries in 
which the company, its international beer business or its international equity 
partners operate; future acquisitions or divestitures by the company, 
including effects on its credit rating; changes resulting from transactions 
among the company's global or domestic competitors; and the effect of stock 
market conditions on the company's share repurchase program.  Anheuser-Busch 
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking 
statements.  Additional risk factors concerning the company can be found in 
the company's most recent Form 10-K.

SOURCE  Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
    -0-                             01/07/2008
    CONTACT:  Brenda Williams, [phone], for Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
    (BUD)

 
 
 
 
 



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