-By Mike Beirne

Anheuser-Busch today created a new business unit called 9th Street Beverages to handle its roster of energy drinks, water and other nonalcoholic beverages.

9th Street Beverages will operate separately from A-B's beer business and will focus exclusively on marketing and growing distribution of the company's no-alcohol products. The unit's name reflects its location within A-B's headquarters in St. Louis.

"With the success of our nonalcohol portfolio and opportunities to continue the momentum, we felt the time was right to bring further focus to this segment of our business," said David English, who was appointed as vp and general manager of the unit. "We have a great strategy and, with the addition of a dedicated sales team, we're excited about the future."

Other 9th Street managers include Brian Belobradic, vp of sales, and Tom Burkemper, director of marketing. A-B said energy, specialty and new age drink concepts are in development for 9th Street; product names have not been disclosed.
 
"Our focus will be on reaching new consumers in accounts where alcohol products are sold as well as accounts where alcohol may not typically have a presence, such as travel and transportation venues and 'at-work retail,' and specialty accounts such as spas, gyms and health stores," English said in a statement. "We'll also continue working with licensed retail accounts to identify opportunities to augment the growth of Anheuser-Busch's beer brands."

Sales of A-B's no-alcohol brands—like 180, Borba Skin Balance, Icelandic Glacial and Monster—have grown 77% so far this year, though they still make up a small part of the brewer's product portfolio.