Bud Light has had a rough year, but the beauty of being owned by multi-national conglomerate Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) -) is that in the grand scheme of things it may not matter.
Despite months of falling sales at Bud Light, AB InBev saw global revenue rise by 7.2% even though overall volume fell by 1.4% in the second quarter.
DON'T MISS: The Bud Light Controversy and Its Impacts Explained
And the company says it has seen improvement in U.S. market share trends as its brand teams "build it back" and "earn back consumers."
So the Bud Light boycotters hoping to bring the company to its knees financially may be a little disappointed over the long run.
But if the goal of boycotting the brand over its decision to employ transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney as a spokesperson was to get the company to change its ways, then the company's CEO just handed them a huge victory.
"People want to enjoy their beer without the debate. We are listening to our consumers," CEO Michel Doukeris said during the company's earnings call August 3.
More Companies in Trouble:
- Bud Light Is Set to Lose a Big Chunk of Its Business Permanently
- Battle for Pride: What to Know About the Target Backlash
- While the Right Celebrates Over Bud Light, Target, They’re Cheering the Wrong Victory
"Regardless of favorability, our consumers across all the sentiment groups have three points of feedback in common. One, they want to enjoy their beer without a debate. Two, they want Bud Light to focus on beer. Three, they want Bud Light to concentrate on the platforms that all consumers love."
Bud Light has a big hole to climb out of with right wingers who are angry the company hired Mulvaney in the first place, but it's hoping that "people still with good memories" of their former favorite brand "still have a very high equity" and interest in Bud Light.
It is still a huge possibility that Bud Light never returns to its spot as the king of American beers and no amount of contrition brings back the people who have abandoned the brand.
But looking at the big picture, AB InBev will probably be okay, even if Bud Light isn't.
