Bud Light, once America's top-selling beer, has lost its title in the US, slipping to second place.
Nielsen data, which Bump Williams Consulting analyzed, shows that Bud Light is no longer the best-selling beer in May. It comes after the widespread boycott called after the beer brand collaborated with transgender influencer Dyan Mulvaney.
Bud Light Loses US' Top-Selling Beer Title
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 31: Empty Bud Light cans sit in the seats during the the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.
As per the Associated Press, Bud Light is now the second top-selling beer, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Bump Williams Consulting, with a market share of roughly 7.3 percent.
The decline in Bud Light's sales comes after the company faced a widespread boycott in April led by conservatives and anti-trans folks. It was a response to the move of the beer brand, wherein it sent commemorative cans to trans influencer Mulvaney.
Modelo Especial has been gaining popularity in recent years thanks to its smooth taste and affordable price. And now, with the continued decline of Bud Light sales, the beer is the top-selling beer in the country with a nearly 1 percent of commanding lead over the second placer. BBC reports that it took 8.4% of the US beer sales.
The loss of the top spot is a huge blow to Bud Light, which has been the top-selling beer in the US for over two decades. The once-best-selling brand must do something to turn things around, or it could lose even more market share to Modelo Especial.
The Bump Williams vice president for analytics and insights, Dave William, discloses that Bud Light reigned at the top rank since 2001 or more than two decades. He believes that the long-time top-selling beer could still turn things around before 2023 ends despite the boycott campaign.
William emphasized that Bud Light still has a striking advantage over Modelo since its year-to-date market share is still in its favor. The latter only holds around eight percent, whereas it still has roughly nine percent.
But despite that, he pointed out that the US sales of Bud Light slumped by 24 percent last June. On the other hand, Modelo Especial swelled by 12 percent.
Read Also: Bud Light Co-Sponsors 'All-Ages' Pride Drag Event Despite Dylan Mulvaney Backlash
Boycott Amid Dylan Mulvaney Backlash
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Cans of Budweiser and Bud Light sit on a shelf for sale at a convenience store, July 26, 2018 in New York City. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the brewer behind Budweiser and Bud Light, said on Thursday that U.S. revenues fell 3.1% in the second quarter. American consumers continue to shift away from domestic lagers and toward crafts beers and wine and spirits.
According to CNN, Bud Light is grappling with continuous sales drop as right-wingers slammed and boycotted America's top-selling beer for over 20 years.
The conservatives targeted the beer brand after it partnered up with TikTok star Mulvaney by sending her commemorative cans, which celebrate her journey to girlhood.
Since the trans influencer posted the commemorative cans on her Instagram, anti-trans and right-wing folks were quick to stop buying Bud Light beer as a protest.
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