Nature Blossoms at Anheuser-Busch Operations

Published 11-17-08

Submitted by AB InBev

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When employees of the Anheuser-Busch land application farm in Jacksonville go for a stroll, they watch where they step. That's because the farm is also home to dozens of alligators who have settled in the property's retention ponds. While most people might find this unsettling, the employees at the farm look forward to seeing their sometimes suspicious neighbors. It's all part of the brewer's efforts to promote wildlife conservation and be a good neighbor not only to people, but nature as well.

As a founding member of the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), Anheuser-Busch has been actively involved with the organization that leads ground-breaking initiatives for the benefit of wildlife and conservation education. WHC members serve as leaders in environmental stewardship at the local, regional and national levels, voluntarily managing their facilities or properties to support healthy ecosystems and environmentally friendly societies. To date, ten Anheuser-Busch facilities have been certified as Wildlife at Work(SM) by the WHC for various projects that help create a healthy and biodiverse natural world.

"Our association with the WHC has been a catalyst for our efforts to recognize and create natural habitats at our facilities across the country," said Doug Muhleman, senior group vice president of brewing, operations and technology for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "It's very gratifying to know that in addition to brewing and supporting the production of some of the world's most popular beers, our operations are also helping to create homes for various types of wildlife and plants. Whether it's a peregrine falcon nest on top of the malt house in Manitowoc, a pollinator garden at the Jonesboro rice mill or the alligators who roam the ponds at our Jacksonville land application farm, we enjoy having the animals as our neighbors and helping nature bloom in unlikely locations."

The following Anheuser-Busch operations have been certified as Wildlife at Work(SM) sites by the WHC.

Jacksonville Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm (Jacksonville, Fla.) -- certified since 1997
Elk Mountain Farms (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) -- certified since 1998
Manitowoc Barley Malt Plant (Manitowoc, Wis.) -- certified since 1999
Jonesboro Rice Mill (Jonesboro, Ark.) -- certified since 2001
Ft. Collins Brewery (Fort Collins, Colo.) -- certified since 2006
Ft. Collins Nutri-Turf Farm (Fort Collins, Colo.) -- certified since 2001
Rome Can Plant (Rome, Ga.) -- certified since 2002
Cartersville Brewery (Cartersville, Ga.) -- certified since 2004
Merrimack Brewery (Merrimack, N.H.) -- certified since 2007
Baldwinsville Brewery (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) -- certified since 2008

"This year, our 20th Anniversary, WHC celebrates two decades of solid leadership and on-the-ground achievements by our members in wildlife habitat preservation and conservation education," said Robert Johnson, WHC president. "WHC members are continuing to lead the way to further define and demonstrate how corporations can use their lands to preserve our biodiversity, while preparing new generations through conservation education to understand how to be better leaders and managers for tomorrow's sustainable businesses and communities. Congratulations to Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. for their volunteer-based efforts to preserve the biodiversity of their community and the world, and to connect people to nature."

In addition to the certification, several of Anheuser-Busch's operations have also been certified as Corporate Lands for Learning(SM)(CLL) sites. CLL facilities serve as educational resources in the communities in which they are located for local educators and wildlife researchers. The following Anheuser-Busch facilities have achieved CLL certification.

Elk Mountain Farms (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) -- CLL site since 2000
Cartersville Brewery (Cartersville, Ga.) -- CLL site since 2006
Jonesboro Rice Mill (Jonesboro, Ark.) -- CLL site since 2005
Fort Collins Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm (Fort Collins, Colo.) -- CLL site since 2007
Jacksonville Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm (Jacksonville, Fla.) -- CLL site since 2008

Since 1990, WHC has certified 489 programs worldwide, of which 97 have been designated CLL programs. These programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.

Celebrating 20 years in conservation, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 46 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. To learn more, visit http://www.wildlifehc.org.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.5 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, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country's best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 overall and No. 1 in social responsibility among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2008. Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit http://www.OurPledge.com.

AB InBev

Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with an American Depository Receipt secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). It is the leading global brewer and one of the world's top five consumer products companies.

Beer, the original social network, has been bringing people together for thousands of years and our portfolio of well over 200 beer brands continues to forge strong connections with consumers. We invest the majority of our brand-building resources on our Focus Brands - those with the greatest growth potential such as global brands Budweiser®, Stella Artois® and Beck’s®, alongside Leffe®, Hoegaarden®, Bud Light®, Skol®, Brahma®, Antarctica®, Quilmes®, Michelob Ultra®, Harbin®, Sedrin®, Klinskoye®, Sibirskaya Korona®, Chernigivske®, Hasseröder® and Jupiler®. In addition, the company owns a 50 percent equity interest in the operating subsidiary of Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer and owner of the global Corona® brand. AB InBev’s dedication to heritage and quality originates from the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium dating back to 1366 and the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery, with origins in St. Louis, USA since 1852. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, AB InBev leverages the collective strengths of its approximately 116,000 employees based in 23 countries worldwide. In 2011, AB InBev realized 39.0 billion USD revenue. The company strives to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World. For more information, please visit: www.ab-inbev.com.

Nature Blossoms at Anheuser-Busch Operations

Nature Blossoms at Anheuser-Busch Operations

AB InBev

AB InBev

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