Grupo Modelo plans $754m Mexican bottling site – reports

AB InBev-owned Grupo Modelo will invest nearly MXN 14 billion ($754 million) to construct a new bottling plant in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, Reuters reports.

The Mexican beer producer, which owns brands such as Corona and Victoria, will build the site in the city of Apan, with production estimated to begin in early 2019.

Construction will start this year and, when complete, the plant will have an initial annual capacity of 12 million hectoliters, which will eventually be doubled.

Forbes reported that that the facility will create at least 1,200 direct jobs, creating the world’s second-largest brewery.

Founded in 1925, Grupo Modelo has 16 brands and a presence in 180 countries. The group merged with AB InBev in 2012.

In 2015 it announced the $182.7 million construction of a new aluminium can production facility in eastern Mexico.