Overall sales growth for Anheuser-Busch InBev was modest in the first quarter of 2024. But AB InBev online sales saw a successful quarter for growth.
Strength of AB InBev online sales
“Driven by the continued momentum of our mega brands, we delivered top-line growth in 75% of our markets to progress our digital transformation generating approximately $11 billion of [gross merchandising value] through BEES with $465 million in GMV of third-party products through BEES marketplace,” CEO Michael Doukeris told analysts on a May 8 earnings call.
BEES is AB InBev’s B2B digital sales platform through multiple channels, including its marketplace for third-party suppliers of beer and non-beer products.
Total AB InBev revenue grew 2.6% to $14.54 billion in the first quarter of the year from $14.21 billion in Q1 2023.
AB InBev owns such brands as Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona.
“The digital transformation of our business provides opportunities to generate additional profitability and revenue streams,” Doukeris said. “While it is only the first quarter of the year, we are pleased with our start and are uniquely positioned to activate the category in 2024 through our mega brands and mega platforms.”
Digital metrics from the AB InBev BEES B2B marketplace
- The AB InBev BEES marketplace is live in 26 markets with approximately 70% of first quarter revenue coming from the company’s B2B digital platforms.
- In the first quarter, BEES had 3.6 million monthly active users and captured $11.3 billion in gross merchandising value (GMV).
- The BEES Marketplace generated 7.3 million orders in the first quarter. It also captured $465 million in GMV from sales of third-party products.
“We have very strong activation opportunities throughout the year that will make a difference for the category, and our brands will have the right investments so they can capitalize on all these investments that we have,” Doukeris told analysts. “This investment, of course, is becoming ever more efficient because as we have the right portfolio, the right brands invest behind these brands have scale, and we can seize better performance from these investments and because we are now very digital, both in the sales to retailers, but in sales to consumers as well.”
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