Ambev is a Brazilian brewing company formed in 1999 through the merger of Brahma and Antarctica, and now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Its name stands for The Americas Beverage Company. Headquartered in São Paulo, it is among the largest companies in Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere by market capitalization and is reported to hold about 69% of the Brazilian beer market. Beyond beer, it produces soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, teas and mineral water.
Origins and growth
The company was created on July 1, 1999, when the rival breweries Companhia Antarctica Paulista and Companhia Cervejaria Brahma combined. Brazil's competition authority approved the merger in 2000. Over time Ambev added further brands and breweries, including the artisanal Wäls from Minas Gerais and Colorado from São Paulo. It operates in 18 countries in the Americas and bottles PepsiCo products in Brazil and several other Latin American countries under a franchise agreement.
Ownership and listings
Ambev went public in 2004 on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, trading under the ticker ABEV3 on B3, and launched a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013. In 2004 it merged with the Belgian company Interbrew to form InBev, which acquired the American brewer Anheuser-Busch in 2008. Ambev S.A. is now a subsidiary of Interbrew International B.V., itself a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Sustainability efforts
The company has set targets to eliminate plastic pollution in its packaging and has invested in eco-friendly alternatives and recycling initiatives. In 2019 it invested $36 million in building solar plants to power its operations, reducing its reliance on non-renewable energy and supporting its goal of lowering carbon emissions.