WASHINGTON — Anheuser-Busch is piloting a new line of business putting beer coolers in offices, and D.C. is one of three test markets.
Anheuser-Busch calls the coolers the Office Bud-e, and there is no charge for companies to have them delivered, nor is there a monthly lease.
It says the Office Bud-e is an advanced, fully-stocked premium office refrigerator that arrives ready to work and filled with a variety of up to 180 beers. It is also Wi-Fi connected, so it knows when it needs restocking.
Anheuser Busch calls it the greatest advancement in corporate culture since the invention of the water cooler.
The Office Bud-e also is available in Chicago and New York City, and coming to Los Angeles soon, though because of California law, the company is required to collect an annual lease fee for offices in Los Angeles.
“Due in large part to the surge of millennials entering the workforce, a recent shift in attitude towards cultivating a positive, more relaxed workplace environment is gaining momentum across the nation,” Anheuser-Busch said in a statement.
“Anheuser-Busch is embracing this progressive movement head on by addressing the increasing demand for in-office perks, such as happy hours, in order to foster increased productivity through the office.”
The Office Bud-e monitors in real time the quantity of beers in stock, and when inventory runs low, the Wi-Fi connected frig connects to local delivery services to restock the supply.
Want one for your office? Anheuser-Busch has more on Bud-e on its website.
