Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Cross-Functional Food Innovation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • Newsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Latest headlines

AB InBev to cut thousands of jobs after merger

By Jeremy Gerrard
August 30, 2016

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) says it plans to cut its workforce by 3 percent following its takeover of rival beverage alcohol company SAB Miller, according to a regulatory filinglast week.

These reductions, equivalent to thousands of jobs, will be implemented gradually over a three-year period following the completion of the merger. According to the Associated Press, Belgian-based AB InBev employs approximately 150,000 people while SAB Miller has about 70,000.

If the company stays true to the projected 3 percent cuts, this would affect an estimated 6,600 jobs. However, AB InBev says regulatory restrictions make it impossible to establish integration plans for certain departments. Because of this, the sales and front-office supply departments at the companies were not included in the estimate, meaning it’s unclear if more cuts are possible.

Upon integration, AB InBev says the group will operate out of its current headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, and the company will retain its global functional management office in New York. SAB Miller’s headquarters in Woking, England will likely be exposed to job losses. AB InBev expects the integration to include the closure of the SABMiller head office in London 12 months following completion. Jobs at SAB Miller’s operations in South Africa will be protected for five years under the terms of the agreement.

In addition, InAB InBev has agreed to divest certain SABMiller businesses to address competition concerns including SAB Miller’s European premium brands and MillerCoors.

In all, the company anticipates these moves will lead to annual cost savings of $1.4 billion four years after the deal.

The proposed $107 billion takeover will bring together the world’s two largest brewers, creating a global juggernaut. AB Inbev's brands include Corona, Stella Artois and Budweiser. SABMiller owns brands such as Miller, Peroni, Pilsner Urquell and Grolsch. According to the commission, at global level the merged entity will sell twice as much beer and earn four times more profit than Heineken, currently the third largest brewer, and five times more beer and 12 times more profit than Carlsberg, currently the fourth largest brewer.

The deal has the support of SAB Miller’s board and awaits shareholder approval. Despite recent concern with the transaction following the drop in value in the British pound, reports say the deal is expected to be approved in September.

KEYWORDS: beer food and beverage companies mergers and acquisitions

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jeremy Gerrard was Food Engineering's Digital/Online Editor. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in journalism. His previous work experience includes years spent as a reporter with the Daily Local News out of Chester County, PA. In addition to writing feature articles for Food Engineering, Jeremy covered the Dry Processing, Field Reports and People and Industry news sections.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • CJ Schwan’s Salina facility.

    Recipe for Growth: How CJ Schwan’s Powers Pizza Production with People and Automation

    Blending advanced automation with purposeful design, this...
    Plant of the Year
    By: Alyse Thompson-Richards
  • Paris Baguette rendering

    FOOD ENGINEERING’s 49th Annual Plant Construction Survey

    Food and beverage manufacturers continue to invest in...
    Plant Construction Survey
    By: Alyse Thompson-Richards
  • Bottling machine

    How Optical and X-Ray Inspection Supports Bottling Safety and Quality

    By transitioning from legacy single-technology systems to...
    Food Safety
    By: Dan McKee
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Engineering audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Engineering or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Worker in protective food-processing attire uses a tablet beside stainless-steel conveyor equipment in a modern food manufacturing facility.
    Sponsored bySafetyChain

    Your Biggest Losses Are Hiding in Data You Already Have

  • Stainless steel conveyor system transferring cut food pieces—likely pasta or fries—through an enclosed industrial processing line using a flexible hose and screw conveyor in a manufacturing facility.
    Sponsored byHapman

    What’s Slowing Down Your Bulk Material Handling Process?

Popular Stories

JBS Logo on Sign

JBS USA to Close Two Facilities

Kraft Heinz PA HQ

Kraft Heinz Reorganizes Global Operating Structure

Bauducco FL grand opening

Bauducco Opens Wafer Production Facility in Florida

Promo for the 2026 Plant of the Year: CJ Shwan

Events

July 23, 2025

Decarbonizing Process Heat: What You Should Know and Next Steps

On Demand Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.

July 23, 2025

Decarbonizing Process Heat: What You Should Know and Next Steps

Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

June 30 FE Webinar: Introducing Industrial Metaverse for Consumer Packaged Goods


CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Related Articles

  • White aluminum cans stacked next to and on top of each other

    AB InBev to Reacquire Minority Stake in U.S. Metal Container Plants

    See More
  • AB InBev agrees to purchase SABMiller

    See More
  • AB InBev seeks to sell off Peroni, Grolsch

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • The 10 Principles of Food Industry Sustainability

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing