Labatt Brewery in London, Ontario, has expanded its product line to meet the growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages. The Richmond Street plant is now producing Busch De-Alc, a lager with only 0.4% alcohol content, as part of a broader initiative to provide consumers with more alcohol-free options.
Crafted from American hops, fine barley malt, cereal grains, and pure water, Busch De-Alc undergoes a low-temperature process to remove the alcohol while preserving its flavor. This move marks a significant step in Labatt’s commitment to both local production and expanding its portfolio of non-alcoholic and de-alcoholized beverages, according to company officials.
The surge in non-alcoholic drink consumption in Canada is reflected in recent sales data. Between June 2023 and June 2024, non-alcoholic beverage sales reached $199 million, a 24% increase from the previous year. Non-alcoholic beer alone accounted for over three-quarters of these sales, as reported by NIQ, a global marketing research firm.
In the past year, Labatt has invested $26.6 million in the London brewery—Canada’s oldest Labatt facility—boosting its capacity by 597,000 hectoliters annually. The brewery, which produces 40% of Labatt’s domestic supply, plays a crucial role in the company’s operations and innovation, officials said.
The introduction of Busch De-Alc adds to the brewery’s long history of production, which includes halting beer production periodically to can water for Labatt’s Canadian disaster relief program. This initiative provides safe drinking water to communities in need across the country.
Labatt’s ongoing investment in the London plant underscores the company’s commitment to both local economic growth and the evolving beverage market.
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