Report: Glass plant that produced bottles for Bud Light lays off hundreds.

The Backlash Faced by Bud Light: Job Losses and Controversy

Recently, Bud Light’s decision to collaborate with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a marketing campaign has caused quite a stir. In fact, a new report reveals that this partnership has resulted in hundreds of people losing their jobs at two glass bottling plants.

The Ardagh Group, an international glass manufacturer, has announced the closure of a plant in Wilson, North Carolina, which employs around 400 individuals. Additionally, they reportedly plan to shut down a plant in Ruston, Louisiana, affecting 245 employees.

The company released a statement, saying:

“Our multi-year performance optimization program, involving targeted investments in enhanced capacity and ongoing cost optimization, underpins our ability to continue to provide existing and prospective customers with high quality, American-made sustainable glass packaging.”

While the specific reasons for the plant closures were not disclosed, internal company documents obtained by NBC affiliate WRAL News in mid-May suggest that the decision was influenced by slow sales with Anheuser Inbev, the parent company of Bud Light.

According to the same publication, the North Carolina plant primarily produced bottles for Bud Light and Budweiser, and several long-time employees confirmed this.

As a result of the controversy surrounding Mulvaney, Anheuser-Busch has experienced a significant decline in market value, losing billions of dollars. Recent figures indicate that weekly sales for Bud Light have continued to plummet, dropping by 26.8% for the week ending June 10.

Experts from Bump Williams Consulting and NielsenIQ stated, “This was a tough week for Bud Light and other beer brands.” They reported a decline in beer sales as a whole, including Budweiser (10%), Natural Light (2.3%), and Michelob Ultra (2.4%) for the week ending June 10.

Mulvaney, a transgender individual, expressed his disappointment with Anheuser-Busch in a video posted on social media. He criticized the company for not publicly supporting him and stated that this lack of support allows customers to freely express transphobia and hate.

The controversial ad, featuring Mulvaney with his face on a special can, led to an overwhelming amount of bullying and transphobia. Mulvaney emphasized the negative consequences that such hate has on the entire LGBTQ+ community.

Anheuser-Busch responded to Mulvaney’s statement by affirming their commitment to programs and partnerships with various communities, including the LGBTQ+ community.

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