South Africa: AB InBev to launch Budweiser in South Africa

Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to launch Budweiser in SA, it said in its March quarter results on May 4.

The group’s overall revenue grew 3.7% to $12.9 bln from the matching quarter in 2016.

Its South African business, gained via its acquisition of SABMiller, grew revenue by "mid-single digits" despite a 1.6% decline in beer volumes.

Anheuser-Busch InBev blamed the drop on "the timing of Easter".

"Castle Lite continues its strong growth in the core plus segment with packaging innovations aimed at improving convenience for in-home consumption. Core brands recovered some of the prior year volume losses to cheap wines and spirits through our commercial initiatives," the company said in its statement.

"The business is well-positioned to grow our global brands, with Stella Artois and Corona already present in the market and plans to launch Budweiser later in the year."

Despite the drop in combined beer volumes, Anheuser-Busch InBev said the "SAB integration continues at a fast pace, with $252 mln of synergies captured in the quarter".