Budweiser ploughs £7.8m into Lancashire brewery

Budweiser Brewing Group has invested £7.8m into expanding its Samlesbury Brewery’s capacity and opening an onsite wastewater treatment facility to bolster its commitment to sustainable brewing in the UK.

The Lancashire brewery’s wastewater treatment facility was built by Global Water & Energy and is designed to break down organic material onsite, producing biogas as a by-product. This is reinjected into the brewery’s energy system and used as renewable heat. As a result, the brewery has reduced gas consumption by 5-8% and lowered CO₂ (Scope 1) emissions.

Globally, Budweiser has improved global water use by 22.7% per hectolitre since 2017, and in high stress areas achieved a water use efficiency of 1.95 hl/hl; an improvement of 31.3% since 2017.

In the UK, the AB InBev group brewer has reduced Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions per hectolitre by more than 44% since 2017, and absolute Scopes 1 and 2 emissions by over 37% since 2017. This progress is complemented by brewing with 100% operational renewable electricity in the UK in 2025, and 100% of the company’s products were in packaging that is returnable or made from majority recycled content in 2025.

Yleni De Neve, sustainability director, Europe at AB InBev, said: “Our significant investments in Samlesbury underlines our long-term commitment to brewing great beer locally in a way that continues to protect the natural resources that businesses and communities depend on. Water is the most important ingredient in our beers, and this new wastewater treatment facility will help us further reduce our environmental impact while supporting the resilience of our operations in the north west, and the UK more broadly.

“As part of AB InBev, we are proud to contribute to global progress in water stewardship and climate action, including significant improvements in efficiency and water savings across our breweries. Building on decades of brewing heritage, this latest investment strengthens the site’s role in the community as a sustainable manufacturing hub and a positive force in the regional economy.”

Samlesbury Brewery has been brewing since 1972 and today employs around 500 people.

Last year, Budweiser opened its first UK based de-alcoholisation unit at its Magor Brewery in south Wales, allowing brands such as Stella Artois 0.0 and Corona Cero to be produced locally, and expanding manufacturing capacity in one of the fastest growing areas of the beer category in both the on and off-trade in the UK.

In 2024 the business restructured its trading relationship with C&C Group, with the latter resuming control of its cider portfolio in Britain, with brands including Magners and Bulmers. The agreement also saw AB InBev assuming control and distribution of its beer portfolio, including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, in the off-trade in the Republic of Ireland.