AB InBev UK named as one of the worst payers
Despite recently seeing a surge in profits, beer giant AB InBev is still taking around four months to pay its suppliers, according to new research. The post AB InBev UK named as one of the worst payers appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Despite recently seeing a surge in profits, beer giant AB InBev is still taking around four months to pay its suppliers, according to new research.
The results, revealed by Good Business Pays, illustrate an increase in slow payments among many UK businesses, with the number of companies delaying payments beyond 100 days reaching an all-time high.
Amongst the worst offenders are known businesses such as AB InBev UK, known more commonly as the owner of Budweiser and Stella Artois. The beer giant has just reported its forecast-beating fourth-quarter profits and progress in cutting debts and has noted in a recent report via Reuters that cost management also drove margin expansion, producing a 10.1% rise in fourth-quarter profits versus analyst forecasts of 7.7%.
Despite these wins for AB InBev, its Brit based business is being flagged as a pay delayer. For instance, Good Business Pays recently unveiled its ‘Spring 2025 Late & Slow Payment Watchlist’ and cited AB InBev UK as one of the latest payers. The list examined more than 6,000 companies’ payment performance, marking the first independent research from the data company since the introduction of the Fair Payment Code in September 2024.
Several major companies have been identified as among the worst for slow and late payments with the findings showing that AB InBev UK takes 121 days to pay its suppliers.
According to the research, the number of companies taking 100 days or more to pay has increased to 32 this year and the news follows The Insolvency Service’s 2024 report, which recorded 23,872 company insolvencies, including 18,840 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 3,230 compulsory liquidations, 1,597 administrations, 202 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), and three receivership appointments.
The UK now has 100 fewer breweries than a year ago despite strong demand for beer, SIBA figures revealed last week. According to data from the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker, Britain has 100 fewer breweries in total as of January 2025 compared to January 2024 – with each quarter of 2024 showing a negative net closure rate.
The tracker assesses all openings and closures to give the net number of breweries, with the UK total number of breweries now standing at 1715 compared to 1815 at the start of 2024. The trade association highlighted that the drop in overall brewery numbers over the last 12 months is much higher than in recent years with legacy Covid debt, restricted access to market via pubs, and tight margins all being factors
.
Speaking about the payment delay research, Good Business Pays CEO Terry Corby said: “These findings are not just concerning - they are alarming. With insolvencies at record levels and small businesses already struggling under economic pressures, delayed payments add unnecessary risk to their survival.”
Crosby explained: “The continued rise in slow payers highlights a systemic failure in corporate accountability. Large companies must do better - not just for their suppliers, but for the health of the entire UK economy. We need to now see the government delivering on its promised reforms to tackle late payments"
Federation of Small Businesses policy chair Tina McKenzie insisted: “The government must now deliver its promised reforms, especially giving audit committees oversight of that company's payment practices.”
UK small business commissioner Liz Barclay added: “Firms offering to pay in four or five months for work you are delivering today are either facing financial difficulties and using you as a bank, or don’t understand the negative impact, not only on their suppliers, but potentially ultimately on themselves if suppliers go bust. Paying suppliers quickly builds sustainable and resilient smaller businesses that can invest, improve products, services and skills, increase productivity and grow.”
The results, revealed by Good Business Pays, illustrate an increase in slow payments among many UK businesses, with the number of companies delaying payments beyond 100 days reaching an all-time high.
Amongst the worst offenders are known businesses such as AB InBev UK, known more commonly as the owner of Budweiser and Stella Artois. The beer giant has just reported its forecast-beating fourth-quarter profits and progress in cutting debts and has noted in a recent report via Reuters that cost management also drove margin expansion, producing a 10.1% rise in fourth-quarter profits versus analyst forecasts of 7.7%.
Despite these wins for AB InBev, its Brit based business is being flagged as a pay delayer. For instance, Good Business Pays recently unveiled its ‘Spring 2025 Late & Slow Payment Watchlist’ and cited AB InBev UK as one of the latest payers. The list examined more than 6,000 companies’ payment performance, marking the first independent research from the data company since the introduction of the Fair Payment Code in September 2024.
Several major companies have been identified as among the worst for slow and late payments with the findings showing that AB InBev UK takes 121 days to pay its suppliers.
According to the research, the number of companies taking 100 days or more to pay has increased to 32 this year and the news follows The Insolvency Service’s 2024 report, which recorded 23,872 company insolvencies, including 18,840 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 3,230 compulsory liquidations, 1,597 administrations, 202 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), and three receivership appointments.
The UK now has 100 fewer breweries than a year ago despite strong demand for beer, SIBA figures revealed last week. According to data from the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker, Britain has 100 fewer breweries in total as of January 2025 compared to January 2024 – with each quarter of 2024 showing a negative net closure rate.
The tracker assesses all openings and closures to give the net number of breweries, with the UK total number of breweries now standing at 1715 compared to 1815 at the start of 2024. The trade association highlighted that the drop in overall brewery numbers over the last 12 months is much higher than in recent years with legacy Covid debt, restricted access to market via pubs, and tight margins all being factors
.
Speaking about the payment delay research, Good Business Pays CEO Terry Corby said: “These findings are not just concerning - they are alarming. With insolvencies at record levels and small businesses already struggling under economic pressures, delayed payments add unnecessary risk to their survival.”
Crosby explained: “The continued rise in slow payers highlights a systemic failure in corporate accountability. Large companies must do better - not just for their suppliers, but for the health of the entire UK economy. We need to now see the government delivering on its promised reforms to tackle late payments"
Federation of Small Businesses policy chair Tina McKenzie insisted: “The government must now deliver its promised reforms, especially giving audit committees oversight of that company's payment practices.”
UK small business commissioner Liz Barclay added: “Firms offering to pay in four or five months for work you are delivering today are either facing financial difficulties and using you as a bank, or don’t understand the negative impact, not only on their suppliers, but potentially ultimately on themselves if suppliers go bust. Paying suppliers quickly builds sustainable and resilient smaller businesses that can invest, improve products, services and skills, increase productivity and grow.” 
