One Photo Shows How Bad It's Gotten For Bud Light
Bud Light, the popular American beer manufacturer, is continuing to suffer declining sales as a boycott of its brand over its controversial partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney persists.
Data from consumer analytics and insights firm Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ reveals that sales volume—the number of units of beer sold—was down 29.5 percent for the week ending May 20, compared to the same period last year, while sales revenue dropped 25.7 percent.
The partnership between Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company, and Mulvaney has drawn the ire of many social conservatives who accuse the brewer of alienating its traditional customer base. Similarly, some LGBTQ+ campaigners have harshly criticized the company for not defending its ties with the transgender influencer after receiving backlash from its customer base.
Dave Williams, vice president for analytics and insights at Bump Williams Consulting, said that while the rate of decline has plateaued, the magnitude of losses has not yet ceased to climb.
“One thing is for sure, the rate of decline has not gotten any better just yet,” said Williams.
Looking solely at Bud Light, sales revenue was down 24.3 percent over the four weeks ending May 20, compared to the same period last year. Co-brand Budweiser, by contrast, was affected far less, recording only a 10.5 percent drop in sales revenue.
In related news, Miller Lite, one of Bud Light's major competitors, reported a 20.7 percent increase in sales over the same period, suggesting that boycotters of Bud Light may have switched loyalties over to the other major beer producer.
Similarly, Coors Light, another major competitor of Bud Light, also reported a 22 percent increase in sales over the same period.
It remains to be seen whether boycotting customers of Bud Light will return to the beer brand if and when they feel that the company and Anheuser-Busch have adequately addressed their grievances, or if those grievances are too many and too deep-seated to be resolved. In the meantime, Anheuser-Busch is likely hoping for a less tumultuous summer than that of 2022.
And now for a quick look at how Bud Light sales are doing on Memorial Day weekend pic.twitter.com/F5B5z5TJVs
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) May 29, 2023