Mass Layoffs Hit Anheuser-Busch

“Anheuser-Busch is set to lay off nearly 400 workers at its corporate offices in the wake of slumping sales that accelerated on April 1, when Bud Light partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney,” the New York Post reports.

“Anheuser-Busch is set to lay off nearly 400 workers at its corporate offices in the wake of slumping sales that accelerated on April 1, when Bud Light partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.” pic.twitter.com/fV9Ip9eLk8

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) July 27, 2023

The company gave a statement to The Wall Street Journal claiming the layoffs will affect “less than 2%” of its workforce.

“We employ more than 19,000 employees nationwide, all united by a deep passion for brewing great beer and an unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home,” Anheuser-Busch states on its website.

The New York Post reports:

The layoffs won’t impact front-line workers such as brewery and warehouse staff, the company told The Journal.

The restructuring, the outlet reported, will eliminate corporate and marketing roles at major US offices, including in St. Louis, New York, and Los Angeles.

Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth added in the written statement: “While we never take these decisions lightly, we want to ensure that our organization continues to be set for future long-term success.”

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“These corporate structure changes will enable our teams to focus on what we do best — brewing great beer for everyone,” the embattled chief executive added, who’s been notoriously tight-lipped since Mulvaney’s posts outraged Bud Light’s consumer base.

Michael Seifert, CEO & Founder of PublicSq., provided an open letter to laid-off Bud Light employees offering to find employment in a network of non-woke businesses.

“Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch announced yesterday that they are laying off 350 employees. Losing a job is never easy and it’s unfortunate their company decided to prioritize woke ideology over doing what was best for the brand,” Seifert wrote.

“So we want to help. If any laid off Bud Light employee reaches out to @officialpsq or @RedBalloonWork, we will help you find a new job in our network of non-woke businesses,” he added.

Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch announced yesterday that they are laying off 350 employees.

Losing a job is never easy and it's unfortunate their company decided to prioritize woke ideology over doing what was best for the brand.

So we want to help.

If any laid off Bud… pic.twitter.com/BvB9ksN7zq

— Michael Seifert (@realmichaelseif) July 27, 2023

NBC News added:

Bud Light recently lost its title as the No. 1 beer in America to Modelo Especial after a campaign involving Dylan Mulvaney during the NCAA Tournament — and subsequent remarks by Bud Light’s brand ambassador — sparked a nationwide backlash.

Conservative media outlets and social media accounts were filled this spring with memes of users disposing of Bud Light in various ways. Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his administration was considering legal action against Anheuser-Busch and its parent company, AB InBev, in response to the financial impact of the campaign.

Since April, AB InBev shares have declined approximately 11%.

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Bud Light sales in the last week of June were down nearly 28% year on year, according to Nielsen IQ data cited by Bump Williams consulting.