Anheuser-Busch Inbev reported a drop in U.S. revenue in the second quarter as Bud Light sales plunged amid a conservative backlash over a campaign with a biologically male influencer who decided he’s a woman.
The world’s largest brewer said Thursday that revenue in the United States declined by 10.5% in the April-to-June period from a year earlier, “primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light.”
It has lost its place as America’s best-selling beer after more than two decades, slipping into second place in June behind Mexican lager Modelo Especial, which is also owned by the Belgium-based ABInBev.
The company faced blowback after sending a commemorative Bud Light can to the influencer, who posted it to millions of social media followers.
Conservative figures and others called for a boycott of Bud Light, while the influencer’s supporters criticized the beer brand for not doing enough to support her. Meanwhile, the influencer criticized the brand for not reaching out in support amid the furor over their partnership.
The beer giant said overall revenue rose 7.2% in the second quarter, to $15.1 billion, from the same period a year ago as global brands such as Stella Artois and Corona made up for the loss in Bud Light sales.
It said normalized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 5%, to $4.9 billion.
(AP/YWN)
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3 Responses
“the influencer’s supporters criticized the beer brand for not doing enough to support her.”
Why is YWN calling a biological male “her”?
“the influencer’s supporters criticized the beer brand for not doing enough to support her.”
Correction. This is definitely NOT a “her”, so if you want to not use “him” use “it”, as in “the influencer’s supporters criticized the beer brand for not doing enough to support it.”
Bud Light was always awful, and I mean the flavor. It should never have been the #1 seller anyway. People are finally trying other beers and will never go back politics aside.