Modelo Especial is owned by Constellation Brands (the United States, NYSE: STZ), which acquired the brand on 7 June 2013 from AB InBev and Grupo Modelo.[1][2] Before Constellation Brands, Modelo Especial was owned by Grupo Modelo from 1925 to 2013.[2]
Modelo Especial is a Mexican pilsner-style lager first brewed in 1925. Constellation Brands sells it in the United States under the same 2013 divestiture that gave it Corona, and it overtook Bud Light in 2023 to become the best-selling beer in the country by dollar sales.
To settle the Department of Justice lawsuit blocking AB InBev's acquisition of Grupo Modelo, AB InBev sold Constellation Brands the perpetual rights to Corona, Modelo Especial and Pacífico in the United States, together with the Piedras Negras brewery. This is why Corona has a different owner in the United States than everywhere else.
The Department of Justice sued to block AB InBev's acquisition of the rest of Grupo Modelo, arguing it would raise beer prices in the United States. The parties settled with a proposed final judgment requiring AB InBev to sell Constellation Brands the perpetual United States rights to the Modelo brands and the Piedras Negras brewery, which is why Corona has a different owner in the United States.
Latest news about Modelo Especial
No tagged news items yet. Headlines are added nightly from public feeds; only titles and links are stored.
Headlines link to the original publisher. Brandtree does not reproduce article text.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Modelo Especial?
⌄
The parent company of Modelo Especial is Constellation Brands, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Modelo Especial Mexican or American?
⌄
Modelo Especial originated in Mexico in 1925, but it is owned today by Constellation Brands, which is headquartered in the United States. So Modelo Especial is a Mexican-origin brand under American ownership.
When did Constellation Brands buy Modelo Especial?
⌄
Constellation Brands completed its acquisition of Modelo Especial on 7 June 2013, after announcing the deal on 14 February 2013.
Who owned Modelo Especial before Constellation Brands?
⌄
Before Constellation Brands, Modelo Especial was owned by Grupo Modelo from 1925 until 2013.
Is Modelo Especial still owned by Constellation Brands?
⌄
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Modelo Especial is still owned by Constellation Brands. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (2) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.