Global beverage market: leading companies 2023, based on sales

Nestlé SA was the leading beverage company in the world in 2023, with sales in excess of 59 billion U.S. dollars. The non-alcoholic beverage producer had a slight lead in sales over second place Anheuser-Busch InBev, whose sales were approximately 268 million U.S. dollars fewer in the same year.  

A history of mergers

AB InBev was founded in 2008 through the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by InBev (itself a product of merger between Interbrew and AmBev in 2004). In 2015, the company acquired SABMiller, further expanding its brand portfolio. AB InBev is the world’s largest brewer. In 2023, the company produced 585 million hectoliters of beer.

Market dominance

AB-InBev’s size enables it to control a large portion of the American beer market. Forty percent of the market in the United States is occupied by its brands. This share has declined over the years as smaller brands and craft brands have gained in sales.