Top 10 Largest Beer Companies in the World 2020 | Beer Market Factsheet

1.    AB InBev

Who is the biggest beer company in the world? By revenue and growth, AB InBev is the largest beer company in the world with last year’s revenues reaching USD 52.33 billion. AB InBev is a multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. With a vast portfolio of 400+ global beer brands including Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and Beck’s, AB InBev is also the biggest brewery in the world.

Along with four other major beer companies that we will cover in this post, AB InBev controls more close to 50% of the global beer market as of 2020 — the primary reason, the company ranks number 1 on BizVibe’s list of the largest beer companies in the world in 2020.

• Founded: 2008
• AB InBev Headquarters: Leuven, Belgium
• AB InBev Revenue: USD 52.33 billion
• AB InBev Number of Employees: 170,000

AB InBev Brands

• Budweiser
• Corona
• Stella Artois
• Beck’s
• Hoegaarden
• Leffe
• Oranjeboom
• Platform Beer Company
• Premier
• Presidente
• Quilmes
• Rifyey

AB InBev Subsidiaries

• Anheuser-Busch
• InBev
• AmBev
• Grupo Modelo

2.    Heineken N.V.

Heineken N.V. ranks 2^nd on this list of the top 10 largest beer companies in the world with last year’s revenues reaching USD 23.7 billion. Heineken is a Dutch brewing company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and was founded in 1864. Heineken is the largest brewery in Europe and since the merger between beer titans Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller back in 2016, Heineken has become the second-biggest beer company in the world. Heineken N.V. is primarily known for its two most popular brands Heineken and Amstel. Heineken is also one of the leading beer producers in the world, with annual beer production of 188.3 million hectoliters last year.

• Founded: 1864
• Heineken N.V. Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Heineken N.V. Revenue: USD 23.7 billion
• Heineken N.V. Number of Employees: 76,136

Heineken Brands

• Heineken
• Tecate
• Amstel
• Fosters
• Sagres
• Cruzcampo
• Skopsko
• Affligem
• Żywiec
• Starobrno
• Zagorka
• Zlatý Bažant
• Birra Moretti

3.    Asahi Breweries

Asahi Breweries is the largest beer producer in Japan and 3^rd on this list of the 10 largest beer companies in the world ranked by revenue in 2020. Asahi Breweries is a global beer, spirits, soft drinks, and food business group headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Under its beer segment, the company is known for its flagship beer brand Asahi “Super Dry”. In the past, its flagship beer used to be Asahi Gold.

Accounting for 37% market share if the Japanese beer market, Asahi is the largest brewery in Japan, followed by Kirin (34%) and Suntory (16%).

• Founded: 1889
• Asahi Breweries Headquarters: Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
• Asahi Breweries Revenue: USD 19.95 billion

Asahi Breweries Beer Brands

• Asahi “Super Dry”
• Asahi Draft – Lager
• Asahi Gold – Lager (former flagship product)
• Asahi Stout
• Asahi Z – Dry lager
• Asahi Black – a 5% abv dark lager
• Asahi Prime Time – German Pilsener style lager (only available in Japan)

4.    Diageo

Diageo is a UK-based multinational alcoholic beverages company, with headquarters in London, England and offices in six continents. In previous years, Diageo used to be the world’s biggest distiller and ranks 4^th on this list of the top 10 biggest companies brands in the world. In 2019, the company brought in annual revenues of USD 15.91 billion. The company is known for many of its major beer brands including Guinness, Rockshore, Harp Lager.

• Founded: 1997
• Diageo Headquarters: London, England, UK
• Diageo Corporation Revenue: USD 15.91 billion
• Diageo Number of Employees: 28,420

Diageo Beer Brands

• Guinness
• Rockshore
• Harp Lager
• Smithwick’s
• Kilkenny
• Meta
• Senator
• Tusker
• Hop House 13

5.    Beijing Yanjing Brewery

Beijing Yanjing Brewery is the 5^th largest beer company in the world by revenue — generating USD 10.35 billion last year. Last year the company produced 57.1 million hectoliters of beer — making Yanjing one of the world’s largest beer producers in terms of beer production output. Yanjing is a state-owned enterprise and initially created to serve beers in the Great Hall of the People. Due to its localization and state-owned status, the company is slightly lesser-known to the general public compare to Tsingtao.

• Founded: 1980
• Beijing Yanjing Brewery Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Beijing Yanjing Brewery Revenue: USD 10.35 billion
• Beijing Yanjing Brewery Number of Employees: 42,239

Beijing Yanjing Brewery Beer Brands

• Yanjing Pale Lager
• Liquan
• Huiquan
• Xuelu

6.  Carlsberg Group

The Carlsberg Group due to the production of its flagship Carlsberg beer has become one of the top 10 largest beer companies in the world. By revenue, Carlsberg Group ranks 6^th on this list of the biggest beer companies, generating USD 9.48 billion last year. The company’s other major beer brands include Tuborg, Kronenbourg, Somersby cider, Russia’s best-selling beer Baltika, and Belgian Grimbergen abbey beers.

The company currently employs over 41,000 people and is known for aggressive and strong advertising. Carlberg’s slogan “Probably the best lager in the world”, has become defining for the brand and its market position in the minds of consumers. Due to strong revenue and aggressive marketing tactics, Carlsberg Group maintains a leading position among the top beer companies in the world.

• Founded: 1847
• Carlsberg Group Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Carlsberg Group Revenue: USD 9.48 billion
• Carlsberg Group Number of Employees: 41,000

Carlsberg Group Beer Brands

• Carlsberg – flagship beer brand
• Tuborg (International)
• Somersby ciders (International)
• Kronenbourg / 1664 (International)
• Grimbergen (International)
• Holsten (International)
• Baltika (Russia)
• Bosman (Poland)
• Dali Beer (China)
• Feldschlösschen (Switzerland)
• Gorkha Beer (Nepal)
• Jacobsen (Nordic countries)
• Lav (Serbia)
• Beerlao (Laos)
• Lvivske (Ukraine)
• Mythos (Greece)
• FIX Hellas (Greece)
• Pan (Croatia)
• Pirinsko (Bulgaria)
• Ringnes (Norway)
• Saku (Estonia)
• Sarbast (Uzbekistan)
• Semper Ardens (Denmark)
• Shumensko (Bulgaria)
• Slavutych (Ukraine)
• Super Bock (Portugal)
• Švyturys (Lithuania)
• Wusu (China)
• Wiibroe (Denmark)

7.    Grupo Modelo

Grupo Modelo is a large brewery in Mexico that exports beer to most countries on a global scale and ranks 7^th on BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest beer companies in the world by revenue in 2020. Its primary beers are mainly targeting the domestic beer market. The company is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev — the largest brewery in the world. Grupo Modelo’s flagship product is Corona.

• Founded: 1922
• Grupo Modelo Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
• Grupo Modelo Revenue: USD 7.1 billion
• Grupo Modelo Number of Employees: 40,617

Grupo Modelo Products

• Corona
• Victoria
• Pacífico
• Modelo Negra
• Modelo Especial
• Modelo Light
• Estrella Jalisco
• León

8.    Kirin Company

Kirin Company is 8^th on this list of the largest beer companies in the world in 2020. Kirin Company is an integrated beverage company and operates as a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings Company, Limited. Owning a 34% of the Japanese beer market, Kirin is Japan’s 2^nd largest beer company followed by Asahi. Kiran’s flagship product is Kirin Ichiban; the beer is even distributed widely to many international markets.

• Founded: 1885
• Kirin Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• Kirin Revenue: USD 6.08 billion
• Kirin Number of Employees: 30,464

9.    Molson Coors Brewing

Ranking 9^th on this list of the largest beer brands is The Molson Coors Beverage Company, a multinational brewing company, formed by the merger of Molson and Coors. Control of the company is equally shared between the two companies. One of the biggest beer brands in the world — generating revenues of USD 4.8 billion last year — The Molson Coors Company is known for flagship beer brands such as Molson Canadian and Coors Light. Despite AB InBev owning SABMiller; after the merger, Molson Coors remains producing and selling the Miller brand of beers.

• Founded: 2005
• Molson Coors Brewing Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Molson Coors Brewing Revenue: USD 4.8 billion
• Molson Coors Brewing Number of Employees: 17,200

Molson Coors Brewing Brands

• Coors Light
• Coors Banquet
• Molson Canadian
• Carling
• Blue Moon Belgian White

10.  CR Snow

Rounding out BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest beer companies in the world is China Resources Snow Breweries, a brewing company with its headquarters in Beijing, China, and the largest brewery in China. CR Snow owns 21 of the market share of the beer market in China and is known for popular brands such as Snow.

• Founded: 1993
• CR Snow Headquarters: Dongcheng, Beijing, China
• CR Snow Revenue: USD 4.72 billion

CR Brands

• Snow
• Blue Sword
• Green Leaves
• Huadan
• Huadan Yate
• Largo, Löwen
• New Three Star
• Shengquan
• Shenyang
• Singo
• Sip
• Tianjin
• Yatai
• Yingshi
• Zero Clock

This is BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest beer companies in the world in 2020, ranked by revenue and popularity. The rise of beer consumption increased as economies prosper and more disposable income is available. The biggest beer companies are innovating with popular beer products and helping the market expand even more in 2020 and beyond.

Reach out and connect with the top beer companies today on BizVibe.