A TOTAL of £45million is to be invested into a brewery in a move that will see 23 new job positions created.

The Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I has announced a £115million investment in its two major UK breweries, one of which is based in Samlesbury and the other in South Wales.

The investment will see 23 new jobs in operational and specialist engineering roles made available in Lancashire, with updates to equipment enabling Budweiser to brew an extra 630 million pints a year.

Among other things the investment will see the installation of a new canning line at the Samlesbury base, allowing for the creation of new sustainable plastic ring-free cans.

There will also be substantial upgrades in brewing, utilities and logistics.

It is hoped that the improvements will support a strong recovery after the pandemic, driving prosperity within the communities it has operated for decades.

Volodimir Kukuruza, Brewery Manager at Samlesbury Brewery, said: “It’s fantastic to be in the position to grow our brewery and our team.

“This ongoing investment makes us one of the most appealing employers in Preston, and we look forward to supporting the area to a strong recovery.”

The Budweiser Brewing Group is a British brewer with a strong presence in the UK, brewing some of the nation’s favourite beers including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona and Bud Light.

It has been brewing in Samlesbury since 1972, and Magor since 1979, and is an important local employer in its communities, employing more than 1,000 people across the two sites.

Paula Lindenberg, President, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, said: “Like many in the UK, we are focussed on a strong recovery of our economy, our communities and our country. By investing in our breweries with new roles and new technology to increase capacity, we’re ensuring that we can brew and deliver great beers for many years to come.

“We know the beer industry is hugely valuable to the UK economy, and we believe our investments in our UK operations will be a catalyst for the recovery post-Covid.”