Anheuser-Busch said this week that it once again makes the best-selling beer in the U.S.
The company touted separate reports that identified its Michelob Ultra brand as the nation’s top seller in retail channels, as well as in bars and restaurants, over the latest 52-week period.
The label overtook Modelo Especial, which itself eclipsed longtime market leader Bud Light — also brewed by Anheuser-Busch — in recent years. Constellation Brands, Modelo’s seller in the U.S., recently lowered its forecast amid falling demand, particularly among Hispanic consumers.
Anheuser-Busch officials said that the achievement reflected its “disciplined, consistent investment” in Michelob Ultra since its 2002 launch, including a focus on sporting events and its reflection of consumers that are shifting toward “balanced choices.” The brewing giant said that Michelob Ultra sales have climbed 15% since 2020.
“The brand’s playbook has been simple and relentless: invest, learn, and execute as the official beer sponsor of America’s most prominent sports and active-lifestyle moments,” Anheuser-Busch Chief Commercial Officer Kyle Norrington said in a statement.
“This approach has turned Michelob Ultra into an absolute rocket ship, and we’ve got tremendous opportunity ahead of us.”
