Bud Light’s Parent To Lay Off Hundreds Of Pen Pushers As Boycott Continues To Wreak Havoc

The severity of the ongoing Bud Light boycott in the US has taken an even more sinister turn with the announcement overnight that its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, was set to make around two per cent of its US workforce redundant.
According to its website, the Dutch-owned Anheuser-Busch employees about 9000 people in its US operations and two per cent of that figure would equate to around 380 positions.
News site CNN has reported the staff cuts would not include those involved in frontline work like brewery and warehouse staff, drivers, field sales and the likes.
The latest redundancy news follows earlier reports this month that as many as 700 workers had been laid off at Bud Light bottling plants in North Carolina and Louisiana following slowing demand from the customer boycott.
Bud Light has seen sales plummet by as much as 30 per cent amid a conservative backlash against a promotional campaign involving Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender social media influencer, back in early April.
Modelo Especial, a Mexican lager, overtook Bud Light as the best-selling beer in the US at the start of June and has remained in the top spot since.
In the month ending July 15, Bud Light’s US sales were down 26.5 per cent, while Modelo’s were up 13.5 per cent. Bud Light held a 6.8 per cent share of the US beer market in that period, while Modelo held an 8.7 per cent share.
Announcing the lay offs, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said in a statement: “Today we took the very difficult but necessary decision to eliminate a number of positions across our corporate organisation.
“While we never take these decisions lightly, we want to ensure that our organisation continues to be set for future long-term success,” Whitworth said.
Interestingly, the two senior marketers responsible for the fiasco in the first place remain on indefinite leave and have not been terminated.
Since the PR shit storm of PR shit storms arrived, Anheuser-Busch bosses have struggled to articulate a response. By apologising to its mainly white, working class drinking base it would infuriate the LGBTQI+ community who’ve long argued that Mulvaney has been thrown under a bus since the chaos erupted.
There are now media reports that Costco stores in the US have now marked unsold Bud Light cases with the “star of death” that means the product will be discontinued from sale.
Last week, during a first-quarter-earnings call to shareholders, Anheuser-Busch’s global CEO Michel Doukeris again tried to downplay the severity of the boycott.
Doukeris said that lost sales from Bud Light represented about one per cent of all of Anheuser-Busch’s global sales.
Anheuser-Busch brands include Stella Artois, Budweiser, Hoegaarden, Michelob Ultra and Busch.
Doukeris said: “Bud Light is very important to our US business, and I would never minimise the situation. However, seeing the context of our global company provides perspective.
“The Bud Light volume decline in the US over the first three weeks of April, as publicly reported, would represent around one per cent of our overall global volumes for that period.”
Doukeris added: “With this perspective, and in the context of our global business, we believe we have the experience, the resources and the partners to manage this and our full-year EBITDA growth outlook is unchanged.”
Since the fracas broke, Bud Light has desperately tried to advertise its way out of the hole with a series of spots featuring hard-working Americans drinking the beer in the (northern hemisphere) summer sun.
“As to Bud Light, we have significantly increased our investments behind the brands in the US, including tripling our media spend over the summer,” Doukeris said.
“Now let’s talk about our consumers,” he said. “We continue to be committed to the programs and partnerships that we have forged over decades with our consumers and with organisations that represent a wide range of communities where we operate. We work every day to delight our consumers and bring people together. When we do this well, our brands perform.
“Beer is an essential part of life’s meaningful moments, whether in sports, music, or celebrations. These are moments that bring people together, and this is why I love beer,” he added. “While beer will always be at the table when important topics are debated, the beer itself should not be the focus of the debate.”
Latest News

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Part 5!
B&T's vote for Australia's greatest-ever ad is much like the recent referendum sans the mudslinging and Kamahl.

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile
Creative technology platform Bonzai has announced the launch of BrandStory – a new premium mobile ad format. BrandStory offers triple the ad space and 2.8 times greater time in view than single scroll ad formats, addressing the surging demand from brands worldwide for more real estate to drive real results by seamlessly intertwining awareness, exploration […]

“Cut The Crap!” Piers Morgan Sensationally Outs “Royal Racists” On His TV Show
The corgis, anyone in the Palace with a funny hat & even Camilla off the hook, as Piers delivers royal racist dirt.

Wednesday TV Ratings: 365,000 Sign Up To Watch The Last EVER Hot Seat on Nine
Mrs McGuire reportedly unhappy about Eddie loafing about the house after Nine cans Hot Seat.

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7
B&T went through the looking glass this morning, with editor-in-chief David Hovenden (above) appearing on Channel 7’s The Morning Show to get the general public involved in our search for Australia’s Greatest Ad. Hovenden chatted with Kylie Gillies and stand-in host Matt Doran about what makes a great ad and showcasing some of our favourites […]

It’s The Best Of The Best – Directors Of First Impressions, Presented By Finecast, Part Of GroupM Nexus
They're the ones with the best hair and the whitest teeth! Yes, it's adland's top 10 directors of first impressions.

Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma
The science is not in question – smarter people than I, with far more data, have codified it. The logic is not up for grabs…it makes sense that creating mental shortcuts to your brand keeps you at the top of your mind. Lead image: Kate Smither – Owner, The Tall Planner I wouldn’t even take […]

Ortto & Tall Bob Partner To Deliver Better SMS & MMS For Australian & NZ Businesses
Two Australian-born technology providers have joined forces to bring more power and choice to marketers in Australia and New Zealand with mobile messaging that is more local, cost-effective, and integrated. It’s a partnership that sees two Australian software companies come together to deliver a world-class mobile-first solution for marketers building data-driven, personalised, omnichannel campaigns. While […]

PubMatic Nabs Luke Smith From Seven West Media
Seven's Luke Smith quits for PubMatic. However, he's still in line for one of James Warburton's annual Christmas hams.

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.
Snap Inc. has announced a number of new recruits. B&T unaware if it positively impacted SEEK's share price.

Michael McLacren Confirmed As Deb Knight Replacement For 2GB Afternoons
Think AM radio has a bit of an angry boys' club feel? It's not improving things with this news.

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh
This will be of interest to any Reddit fans, graphic designers or lovers of an orange so bright it burns the retinas.

World Square Counts Down To Christmas With Sydney’s Biggest Advent Calendar
Hopefully this news will get you in the Christmas spirit. Either that or go and stand in Westfields for nine hours.

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market
Zitcha and Broadsign have teamed up to integrate the Broadsign out-of-home (OOH) advertising platform with Zitcha’s retail media platform. The collaboration empowers retailers to maximise and monetise in-store digital display networks and enables advertising partners to easily view and book available in-store inventory and review campaign performance alongside the retailer’s other media channels. With the […]

Ignite the Thrill: National Drag Racing Championship Unleashes Media Campaign Via Murmur Group
If there's one sport in the world that's thumbing its nose at global emissions, it's probably drag racing.

Rethink Ink: Is It About Time You Reconsidered Print?
Print's not merely an excellent vehicle for brands, it's also perfect for getting the barbecue alight for the sausages.

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label
Today, 7-Eleven has announced a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the popular Sydney-based anti-resort wear label Double Rainbouu. Dropping tomorrow, December 1, just in time for summer, this limited-edition capsule will infuse the fashion brand’s rebellious spirit with a distinctly iconic 7-Eleven flavour. The unisex collection features five must-have styles comprising two signature Hawaiian shirts, a peaked cap, a bucket hat […]

Cannes In Cairns Media Accreditation Open Now!
Work in media? Want to cover next year's Cannes In Cairns? There'll be no free piña coladas without this form.

In-House Agency Council Research Report: 78% Of Marketers Now Work With An In-House Agency
In-housing is definitely an industry hot button topic. Admittedly still a long way behind office affairs.

OMA Announces Winners Of The Q3 Creative Collection Competition
Who doesn't love the out of home medium? Apart from the very real chance of being shat on by a bird.

JOLT Launches Industry First In-App Advertising Solution
Do you drive an EV more for its bragging potential than anything environmental? You may enjoy this electric news.

Ideally Nabs Simon Gawn From Denomination
Denomination's Simon Gawn jumps ship to Ideally. Apparently his farewell from his barista was very touching.

SurfStitch Unveils New Brand Position & Summer Campaign
Did that winter diet not result in the beach body you so hoped? Read this surfwear article with caution.

Man Of Many Welcomes Naman Singh & Alex Martinez
If Man Of Many's hold music isn't Metallica's "The Shortest Straw", it bloody well should be.

realestate.com.au Extends Major Partnership With Sydney Swans
Australian property site realestate.com.au has announced the extension of its partnership with the Sydney Swans for two further seasons. Lead image: Tom Harley, Owen Wilson and Tom McCartin realestate.com.au has partnered with the Swans since 2016 and has called the back of the club’s iconic guernsey home since becoming a major partner in 2020. This […]

Tuesday TV Ratings: “There Are Too Few Episodes” – Dessert Masters Finale Leave Viewers Wanting More
Dessert Masters finale reportedly leaves viewers wanting more. Weight Watchers also keeping a keen eye on things.

Avenue C Nabs Paula Lopes From KINESSO
Leading independent media agency, Avenue C, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Paula Lopes as Digital Director. Paula, a seasoned professional with over 17 years experience in the media industry, joins Avenue C from her role as Chief Operations Manager of KINESSO (merger of Reprise, Matterkind, and Kinesso specialities).

Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts Departs Star 104.5 Breakfast
Dave 'Rabbit' Rabbetts departs Star 104.5 breakfast. Has asked everyone call him Dave for a little bit.

MOO Premium Foods Admits “100% Ocean Plastics” Claims Misled Consumers
Yoghurt brand in strife over green claims. Meanwhile Mars Bars still getting away with "helps you work, rest & play".

IAB Study: Online Advertising Expenditure Hit $3.73B For September Quarter
Digital continuing to be advertising's star performer. Although that's not intended as a slur to the humble catalogue.

More Than 15,000 Watch On YouTube As An Emotional Brittany Higgins Takes The Stand
One of the biggest stories of 2023 looking like it's heading into 2024. Has the legs to even make 2025.

oOh!Media Fuses People & Performance At National Annual Revenue & Growth Conference
oOh!media brought together more than 260 of its sales, operations, commercial, marketing, finance and leadership teams last week for its national annual revenue and growth conference. Held over two days at the picturesque Rydges Resort in Hunter Valley, the event ‘Fusing people and performance’ focussed on how to build a high-performance mindset and how it […]

The End Of An Era: Millionaire Hot Seat Comes To A Close After 25 Years
Eddie McGuire set to become even more annoying after his game show hosting gig comes to an end.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: These Are The Moments That Dominated Media Coverage In 2023
It's 2023's biggest news stories counted down! And whoever wrote it clearly didn't miss out out Taylor Swift tickets.

Free-To-Air TV Welcomes Landmark Win Against Streaming Giants
It's a win for the free-to-air networks this morning. However, it's not stopped the incessant squabbling between them.

KFC Spoofs Fragrance Ads With Its Own Unisex Scent Shaped Like A Drumstick
Want stray dogs to follow you home after a night out? This chicken-inspired scent could be just the ticket.