Modelo Tops Bud Light in Sales For the Second Month in a Row

Modelo Especial, a Mexican-made beer, has reclaimed the title of the top-selling beer in the United States for the second consecutive month, surpassing Bud Light.

According to data from NIQ provided to consulting firm Bump Williams, Modelo Especial secured 8.7% of overall beer sales for the four-week period ending on July 1, surpassing Bud Light’s 7% share. During the same period, Bud Light experienced a sales decline of 28.5%, while Modelo’s sales grew by 8.5%.

Bud Light lost the top-selling title last month, a position it had held for two decades, following the Dylan Mulvaney controversy. After Bud Light sent a custom can to the transgender influencer, it faced negative backlash and criticism, impacting its sales. Anheuser-Busch’s response to the situation also drew criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates.

In an attempt to revive sales, Bud Light launched a new marketing campaign in June, focusing on country music and NFL players. Additionally, the company highlighted its farmers, delivery drivers, and servers in its advertising, some of whom faced threats due to the earlier backlash.
Despite its recent decline, Bud Light remains the country’s top-selling beer year-to-date, holding an 8.7% share of the beer market. However, Modelo, owned by Constellation Brands, is gradually closing the gap and currently holds an 8.1% share.

Constellation Brands, the parent company of Modelo, recently reported strong earnings, with its beer business, including Corona, showing an 11% increase in sales for the first quarter.

Greg Gallagher, Vice President of Brand Marketing for Constellation, emphasized Modelo’s continued success and expressed a desire to expand its dominance beyond Hispanic drinkers to attract customers from diverse demographics, stating, “Our growth is in maintaining that core but also bringing in non-Hispanic customers, and we’re having incredible success.”