Yeah —it’s bad.
According to a Fox News report, beer manufacturers are surprised at just how long the boycott of Bud Light has gone on; “The whole industry is in shock,” Beer Business Daily editor and publisher Harry Schuhmacher told Fox News Digital.
“Even Bud’s competitors aren’t really dancing on the grave because they know it could have happened to them,” he adds.
“This particular promotion just really struck a chord. It was just a bridge too far, apparently, for consumers… we’re in week six and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better,” he continued. “In fact, the numbers just keep getting a little worse every week… down in the 25% area. And their competitors are up almost just as much, and that’s continuing through today.”
From Fox News:
Schuhmacher, who regularly speaks to beer distributors across North America, believes newfound demand for light lagers that aren’t owned by Anheuser-Busch could result in a trickle-down effect on the industry. Molson Coors, the parent company of both Coors Light and Miller Lite, might not even be able to supply enough beer as Americans enter a holiday weekend that unofficially kicks off the start of summer.
“You can’t just flip a switch and make beer. You know, beer is brewed. It takes, you know, at least a couple of weeks to make. So, they haven’t had major supply issues yet, but we’re about to hit Memorial Day and we could probably see some supply shortages there,” Schuhmacher said.
Molson Coors told Fox News Digital there are no out-of-stock concerns ahead of Memorial Day Weekend because inventory was built up over the winter.
Schuhmacher explained that Anheuser-Busch has begun buying back unsold, expired beer from distributors, which brings much relief as those are the people who normally bear the brunt of the costs when a product isn’t purchased. While it’s a step in the right direction, distributors who rely on Americans purchasing Bud Light will continue to suffer.
“The sales are just still plummeting down,” he said.
More over at Fox News:
Beer industry ‘in shock’ that Bud Light backlash continues as expert warns of supply shortages of rival lagers https://t.co/hWu94UMeuf
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 24, 2023
