Anheuser-Busch InBev is planning to cut jobs in the U.S. after a sharp deterioration in sales following a boycott that’s still impacting Bud Light.
The industry publication Brewbound said the company was going to cut 2% of its U.S. workforce, where it employs 19,000. The company told the publication that front-line workers, including warehouse staff and field reps, will not be impacted. The company did not specifically identify slumping Bud Light sales as the cause of the layoffs.
Bud Light sales have tumbled after the company’s ill-fated social media promotion with Dylan Mulvaney.
Citing Nielsen U.S. beer data, analysts at Bank of America said volumes at the brewer tumbled by 15.3% year-over-year in the four weeks ending July 15, compared to the 2.7% decline for the broader U.S. beer category.
Bud Light sales over that same time period skidded 29.8%, and Budweiser volumes skidded 14%. In contrast, Coors Light sales rose 17% in the last four weeks, Miller Lite volumes rose by 12.5% and Yuengling sales surged 38%.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s U.S.-listed shares
BUD,
have dropped 2% this year. In its home market of Belgium, shares
ABI,
rose 0.6% on Thursday.
