WASHINGTON — Just in time for the Super Bowl, fans at home who have a craving for Bud Light can have beer delivered by pressing a button, without having to get off the couch — as long as they live in Washington.
Anheuser-Busch has launched its Bud Light Button app in Washington, D.C., offering delivery of between 1 to 100 cases of beer, with the expectation of getting it delivered within an hour.
The beer giant is teamed with Klink, the alcohol delivery service which launched last summer in D.C. and three other markets.
While some might question the choice of D.C. — which is experiencing an explosion in craft beer — as a market for the mainstream Bud Light, the CEO of Klink says it’s a no-brainer.
“Bud light is our most popular beer in D.C. market by a substantial margin,” says founding partner Jeff Nadel.
Nadel tells WTOP he made it clear to Anheuser-Busch that Washington would be a good market in which to launch the Bud Light delivery app.
“D.C. is pretty close to ideal demographically,” says Nadel. “It’s a really solid base of millenials and young professionals, and people who are ready to use new technology.”
The Bud Light Button free app, available for iOS and Android is aimed at 20-somethings, in an attempt to differentiate itself from other alcohol delivery services.
Miller Lite recently teamed with Klink rival Drizly to offer free delivery in D.C. and other cities.
The Bud Light app and marketing, with the slogan “Up for whatever,” suggests by using the app, anything may happen, including a spontaneous party.
“What we’re doing is first in the industry,” says Nadel. “This is the delivery of incredible experiences.”
Some users will get more than beer at their door, according to Lucas Herscovici, of AB InBev.
“Some people will get just a little something extra, like Bud Light-branded gear, but once in a while we’re going to deliver a really over-the-top, amazing experience,” says Herscovici. “Maybe that means we show up with a DJ who turns your gathering of friends into an amazing event.”
How the Bud Light Button works
Users who download the app are asked to provide birth date, credit card information, and must agree to terms of use. A driver will ask for a customer’s ID card, to make sure they are old enough to drink.
Users can choose between bottles and cans.
Nadel says Bud Light drinkers in the D.C. area tend to favor bottles, but not by a wide margin.
While choosing how many cases to order, the app offers an approximate delivery time.
Nadel expects the Bud Light Button will do well in the Washington area.
“It’s been an incredible market for us.”
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