Anheuser-Busch Initiates Corporate Layoffs Amid Bud Light Sales Downturn

Anheuser-Busch is cutting corporate staff in a major restructuring move following Bud Light's recent displacement as the top-selling beer in the U.S. by rival Modelo, with 380 roles at risk.

The spokesperson of Anheuser-Busch said the reorganization will simplify and cut down layers within the company. The layoff comes after the brand's Bud Light beer lost its position as the top-selling beer in the country and was displaced by its rival, Modelo, the maker of Corona beer.

Since the job cuts will mostly hit corporate workers, Anheuser-Busch's frontline workers, including those in the warehouse, brewery, field sales, drivers, and similar roles, are safe. CNN Business reported that the terminations only affect less than two percent of the company's workforce in the U.S. The alcoholic beverage manufacturer has more than 19,000 employees across the country, and doing the Math, two percent is equivalent to 380 job posts.

"Today we took the very difficult but necessary decision to eliminate a number of positions across our corporate organization," Brendan Whitworth, chief executive officer at Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement. "While we never take these decisions lightly, we want to ensure that our organization continues to be set for future long-term success. These corporate structure changes will enable our teams to focus on what we do best − brewing great beer for everyone."

In May, Modelo took over the top spot from Bud Light as the top-selling beer in the U.S. This was the first time that the brand had been displaced in more than two decades. Anheuser-Busch started to struggle after featuring transgender social media influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, on a customized can of Bud Light. This move stirred controversies that sent the company's sales spiraling down.

USA Today reported that the American brewing company saw its sales dropping so fast as the consumers also started to boycott its products in response to Bud Light's move to team up with Mulvaney. The LGBTQ+ community also condemned the beer brand for how it responded to the boycott and failed to support Mulvaney amid the backlash.

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