Massive Layoffs Bud Light Avalanche Continues
Bud Light is reeling from the fallout of its botched promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney as the beer giant is now facing mounting losses and declining sales. And the struggling brand might just be worsening the already grim job market as one of its glass bottling companies just laid off hundreds of employees.
The Ardagh Group, a global glass producer who contracts with Anheuser-Busch, announced that it will be closing two of its plants in North Carolina and Louisiana in July, putting roughly 645 employees out of a job according to WRAL.
Workers at both bottling plants said that they’ve noticed a decrease in production since the spring when Mulvaney’s viral video announcing the collaboration with Bud Light sparked controversy and nationwide boycotts. David Williams, a machine repair mechanic, told WRAL that the plant closures were due to the Bud Light situation. An internal Ardagh Group memo obtained by WRAL also said the closures were due to slow sales with Anheuser-InBev.
It is unclear if Bud Light will face any further repercussions from the failed promotion, though they’ve already lost billions in market value and sales continue to slide. According to NiselsenIQ data provided to FOX Business by Bump Williams Consulting, Bud Light’s sales for the week ending June 3 were down 24.4% compared to a year ago.
Mulvaney, who recently spoke out about the boycott backlash, claims it prompted more bullying and “more transphobia than I could’ve ever imagined.” The influencer also blasted the company for not being supportive as she dealt with the "transphobia." It’s unclear if Bud Light will face more boycotts in the future.
In the meantime, 600+ employees have been put out of work as a result of Bud Light’s failed promotion. The beermaker has taken several steps to try to alleviate the backlash, and now they are hoping that it’s enough to win back consumers as their losses continue to mount.