Anheuser-Busch Lays off Hundreds

AB InBev’s Anheuser-Busch, maker of beer with brands such as Budweiser, Bud Light, and Stella Artois, has announced that it is laying off hundreds of corporate employees, but frontline workers will not be impacted.

This news does not comes as a shock, as the company has lost revenue since Bud Light's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney. The controvesy of the partnership had the beer giant struggling to keep its top position in the market.

In June, to try to get many of its customers back, the company launched its “That’s Who We Are” campaign, which focuses on all parts of its business, including its people, branding, partnerships, and more.

Early this month, Bud Light lost its spot as the top-selling beer in the country to Modelo Especial, owned by competitor Constellation Brands. In the week ending July 16, sales of Bud Light declined 20.1% and volumes fell 23.6% year-over-year, according to Circana data reported by Brewbound. 

In a statement, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said the cuts are a “very difficult but necessary decision” for the company.

“While we never take these decisions lightly, we want to ensure that our organization continues to be set for future long-term success,” Whitworth said. “These corporate structure changes will enable our teams to focus on what we do best — brewing great beer for everyone and earning our place in the moments that matter.”

Anheuser-Busch employs around 19,000 US workers, according to its website. If accurate, the less than 2% job cuts figure would affect under 380 workers.