BUDWEISER has announced a major new investment in its Lancashire brewery.

The company will be investing a total of £115 million in its Samlesbury and South Wales facilities, which it hopes will help drive growth across both regions.

This could lead to the creation of new jobs at the Cuerdale Lane site, to be recruited locally.

Budweiser Brewing Group UK and Ireland president Paula Lindenburg said: "With the investment comes new sustainable equipment and recruitment of 55 new permanent roles at our sites.

"We’re proud to be recruiting in the local communities where we operate at a time when the sector has seen such a difficult period."

She added: "Despite the difficulties of the UK remaining in lockdown, our amazing teams helped keep Britain’s favourite beers on supermarket shelves while supporting our pub partners to prepare for a strong recovery of the sector."

Ms Lindenburg believes that, despite the challenges lockdown has posed, the popularity of Budweiser's brands have helped the company to see the pandemic through.

Figures released by the company show that its Stella Artois and Budweiser brands were the first and second most popular beers in the UK respectively over this year's first sales quarter.

Now, with the hospitality sector reopening, she believes that further opportunities lie ahead.

Ms Lindenburg said: “Budweiser started the year strongly, launching a landmark new campaign revealing that every single can, bottle and keg of Budweiser in the UK is now brewed with 100 per cent renewable electricity, proving the brand’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and the future of the planet.

"With Budweiser 100 per cent renewable, we’re giving people the opportunity to make a small change to help the planet, which will contribute to securing a brighter future for us all."

Turning to the company's other brands she added: “Corona launched its From the Natural World campaign, which celebrates the power of nature in reconnecting individuals with their best selves and the role the natural world plays in creating Corona, a beer brewed with 100 per cent natural ingredients.

"Following a year of isolation, the ongoing campaign looks to inspire people to return to the world outdoors and to rediscover the joy of their local natural environment."