Current:Home > ScamsHas Bud Light survived the boycott? Year after influencer backlash, positive signs emerge -MoneyBase
Has Bud Light survived the boycott? Year after influencer backlash, positive signs emerge
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:24:30
Bud Light sales remain flat more than year after the brand faced a conservative boycott from consumers angered over its teaming up with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
AB InBev, which owns Budweiser and Bud Light, said overall global sales topped $14.5 billion, but sales in the U.S. declined 9.1% during the Jan.-March 2024 period. Sales to retailers were down 13.7%, "primarily due to volume decline of Bud Light," the company said.
However, the world's largest beer maker says its revenue rose 2.6% during the first three months of 2024, in its quarterly financial report released Wednesday.
Sales of higher-priced products helped revenue increase as total worldwide volume of beer sold fell 1.3%.
A sauceless summer?:Huy Fong pepper supplier problem stalls Sriracha production
Bud Light sales decline continues
AB InBev has seen U.S. sales decline since the boycott, which arose after Mulvaney posted a video on Instagram about the company's $15,000 March Madness giveaway contest and showed a promotional Bud Light can with her face on it.
Criticism followed with conservatives calling for a boycott of Bud Light and Kid Rock releasing a video in which he shot and destroyed cases of Bud Light with an assault weapon.
Subsequently, Modelo Especial overtook Bud Light in May 2023 as the best-selling beer in the U.S. Constellation Brands, which also owns Pacifico, has the rights to distribute Modelo and Corona in the U.S., while AB InBev does so in markets outside of the U.S.
AB marketing push extends to UFC, Olympics
In recent months, Bud Light became the official beer of the UFC , while another Anheuser-Busch beer, Michelob Ultra, became the first beer brand to be an Olympic sponsor in 40 years.
Bud Light sales may continue to fall off because those who boycotted "haven't forgotten and they've found new light beer brands to purchase or discovered spirits-based (ready-to-drink cocktails) or perhaps even cannabis to purchase," Bump Williams, whose firm Bump Williams Consulting of Shelton, Connecticut, services the alcoholic beverage industry, told USA TODAY earlier this year.
But AB InBev may have weathered the Bud Light controversy storm. The previous financial quarter is the last in which it compares to pre-boycott sales figures. "ABI has got its (likely) hardest quarter of 2024 out of the way with little to no bruises," Barclays analyst Laurence Whyatt told Reuters.
The company, which also makes Busch Light and imports such as Stella Artois, impressed analysts with North America volumes down less than expected, and record volumes in some markets including Brazil and South Africa.
"We're excited with the momentum behind our brands," CEO Michel Dimitrios Doukeris said in an interview with analysts about the quarter's performance. Sales of Michelob Ultra and Busch Light, as well as vodka seltzer brand Nütrl and Cutwater canned cocktails showed "very strong growth," he said.
AB InBev shares hit their highest level on the New York Stock Exchange since mid-March and were up nearly 7% over the previous five days.
Contributing: Jessica Guynn, Gabe Hauari and Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY Network and Reuters.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
veryGood! (2)
Related
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- What to know about abortion provider Dr. Caitlin Bernard, a guest at State of the Union
- This 'Euphoria' star says she's struggled with bills after Season 3 delays. Here's why.
- Was Facebook down on Super Tuesday? Users reported outages on primary election day
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- US fencers raise concerns about biased judging, impact on Paris Olympic team
- New York City FC CEO Brad Sims shares plans, construction timeline for new stadium
- BBC Scotland's Nick Sheridan Dead at 32
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Gisele Bündchen Addresses Her Dating Life After Tom Brady Divorce
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Bill that could make TikTok unavailable in the US advances quickly in the House
- Gunman in Maine's deadliest mass shooting, Robert Card, had significant evidence of brain injuries, analysis shows
- Horned 'devil comet' eruption may coincide with April 8 total solar eclipse: What to know
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Margaret Qualley to Star as Amanda Knox in New Hulu Series
- Ground cinnamon sold at discount retailers contaminated with lead, FDA urges recall
- Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans Breaks Silence on Split from Husband David Eason
Recommendation
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
What to know about Kate Cox: Biden State of the Union guest to spotlight abortion bans
Virginia budget leaders confirm Alexandria arena deal is out of the proposed spending plan
Panel says the next generation of online gambling will be more social, engaged and targeted
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Kristin Cavallari Shares the Signs She Receives From Her Brother 8 Years After His Death
Watch kids' cute reaction after deployed dad sneaks into family photo to surprise them
New York City FC CEO Brad Sims shares plans, construction timeline for new stadium