Johannesburg/London — Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is ramping up investment in Africa after seeing a boom in demand for its beer on the continent, building on the Budweiser owner’s $106bn takeover of SABMiller in 2016. Shipments in the region excluding SA increased by as much as 20% in 2017, putting it among the fastest-growing territories for the world’s biggest brewer. Premium brands such as Stella Artois and Corona are growing in popularity in SA, according to regional CEO Ricardo Tadeu. "We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars on the continent this past year, most notably $200m in SA," he said in an interview on Thursday. AB InBev cited Africa as a major factor in the decision to buy SABMiller, which has its roots selling beer to miners in 19th century Johannesburg. Jorge Paulo Lemann, one of AB InBev’s billionaire shareholders, said last year that the continent’s rapid urbanisation and warm climate could eventually see it overtake the US in beer sales. Rival compani...
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