Ambev, ABInBev’s local unit in Brazil, has developed a ready-to-eat, malt-based beverage that aims to help feed families in vulnerable communities. The product was designed by Ambev Innovation Manager Marina Bairros Correa in Brazil where more than half of the population is living with some level of food insecurity and 9% of people are experiencing severe food insecurity.
The new drink recently received an honorable mention at Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas.
“As the world’s leading brewer, our people are always looking for ways to make a meaningful impact in the world,” said Marina. “At Ambev, we saw an opportunity to help our local community by combining our formulation expertise and scale to develop a new beverage made from barley, one of the main ingredients in brewing our beers."
To ensure the product specifically addressed the needs of Brazilians, Ambev nutritionists used research from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics to evaluate vitamin deficiencies. The result is a formula with vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E, as well as calcium and magnesium.
Ambev collaborated with Tereos, MCassab, GlobalFruit Tetra Pak, Smurfit Kappa, Vogler, Tereos and Primeserv to produce, package and distribute the product. Together with its distributors, Ambev has delivered more than 270,000 units, at no cost, to families living in poverty in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
“We are proud of our science-based, community-specific approach to fighting nutrient inadequacy,” Marina said. “We hope to inspire others to do their part to help put struggling communities on a path to a more sustainable, inclusive and rewarding future.”
