Saint Louis, MO — As a beer company, our brewing culture runs deep. We taste. We homebrew. We celebrate achievements – big and small – with a “cheers,” “prost” or “sláinte.” But even at the biggest beer company around, few people can claim the credentials of Pete Kraemer. Beer is practically in the Kraemer family DNA.
Pete is the third generation of his family to work at Anheuser-Busch, and the fifth to make beer. His father, Gerhardt Kraemer, was a legendary Anheuser-Busch brewmaster who retired in 2001. Gerhardt joined A-B in 1958 – recruited by his great-uncle, who started brewing for the company in 1937. Even before that, his grandfather and great-grandfather were brewing in Hungary in the late 1800s.
Pete KraemerIn 2008, Pete followed in his father’s footsteps when he was named our Head Brewmaster and Vice President, Supply. In this role, Pete oversees all North American breweries and verticalized operations including Busch Agricultural Resources, Inc., Metal Container Corporation and other packaging operations.
Now, Pete is taking on an even bigger job. Pete – a 27-year veteran of our company and St. Louis native – is joining our global Executive Board of Management as Chief Supply Officer, reporting directly to CEO Carlos Brito. In his new role, Pete will lead all brewery operations, quality assurance, raw materials and product innovation responsibilities worldwide – overseeing over 150 breweries and facilities. Not leaving his roots far behind, a part of his job will be to oversee the global Budweiser taste panel, a monthly gathering at the St. Louis brewery – home of Budweiser – to taste brews from more than 50 ABI breweries globally.
“My dad always encouraged us to pursue whatever made us happy, so I chose a career in brewing,” said Pete. “Let’s just say I think his advice was more than helpful. I’m honored to bring all I’ve learned in St. Louis and at Anheuser-Busch breweries nationwide to our global company whose brewing roots date back to 1366.”
Vini Barbosa Pete will be succeeded by Vini Barbosa, currently VP Logistics, North America. Vini joined our company in 1993 as a Global Management Trainee in Brazil and has held many positions in procurement and logistics in the field, including Brewery Manager and Brewery Operations Director for the Rio and Minas Gerais region.
“Brewing is the backbone of our business and Pete is an icon in our industry,” said João Castro Neves, Zone President, North America. “He and his team have been committed to brewing the best beers in the world for decades, and this is an exciting next step in a storied career.”