A-B launches ‘thank-you’ offers for UK servicemen who fought in Iraq

Lager manufacturer Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has launched a “thank-you programme” offering British servicemen, who have served in Iraq, free entrance to theme parks in the US.

A-B took out a full-page ad in The Sunday Times to announce “Operation Salute” to extend its “gratitude” to members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The advertisement says: “Thank You. To members of the British armed forces who bravely served in the Iraq conflict.”

As part of Operation Salute, the company is giving away free single-day tickets to visit theme parks in California, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Texas and Virginia. The offer ends on November 11, which is celebrated as Veterans’ Day in the US. The offer, which is also available to the American forces, is extended to four family members of the serving forces.

A-B, which owns the Budweiser and Michelob lager brands, has fought over the use of the trade name Bud with Czech brewery Budvar for almost a century. Both claim the rights over the “Budweiser” and “Bud” trade names.

A-B holds the unchallenged rights to the Budweiser name in most of the world, including North and South America, the UK and virtually all of Asia. But earlier this month it lost the dispute with Budvar about the use of the “Bud” trade name in Austria.