Beer Marketer's Insights - Bud Light Still #1 Brand by Vol in US Last Yr but Especial & Ultra Closing In; MC Top Brands Held Share, Dipped in Rank; Busch Light Passed Bud

More big trend swings among the industry's biggest brands in 2024 led to some significant shifts in rankings among top 10 beer brands in the US. However, the #1 brand by volume was still Bud Light last year, even after posting two years of tuff double digit declines. Bud Light shipments declined an estimated 11.5% to 15.8 mil bbls in the US, INSIGHTS figures. It lost 2 mil bbls in 2024, 8 mil bbls in the last 2 yrs. Yet its 15.8 mil bbls was still the lead barrelage. Tho not by much, especially excluding exports, as Modelo Especial surpassed 15 mil bbls for the first time and Mich Ultra jumped to 14.4 mil bbls, we estimate. Both Modelo Especial and Mich Ultra surpassed MC's Coors Light, which slipped to #4 brand overall as shipments dipped 2%. Miller Lite held onto #5 rank overall but declined nearly 3%. In early 2025, Bud Light continues to post high-single-digit volume decline in Circana MULC off-prem channels thru Feb while Modelo Especial trend took a surprise downward turn starting the year off down low singles. Yet Mich Ultra remains red hot with volume up 6% thru Feb in scans. Suggests it will be a tight race for #1-3 ranks in 2025 all-channel volume. Meanwhile, MC's top 2 brands were able to hang onto the vast majority of their share gains and the majority of their shipments gains from 2023. But both brands started off down nearly 7% thru first 2 mos of 2025 in Circana MULC data, and face more tuff comps in the 1st half of 2025 after co built inventory amid labor negotiations in early 2024. Corona Extra dipped 1% to 9 mil bbls in the US, we estimate. It's still the #6 beer brand by volume. But AB's Busch Light is rising in the ranks, surpassing sibling brand Budweiser in 2024 and continuing to grow in early 2025 scans. Gotta note, Bud/Bud Light brands collectively still over 23 mil bbls and other extensions push the total Budweiser family above 27 mil bbls, INSIGHTS estimates. Still the largest brand family by far with 14 share of total shipments, but continuing to lose chunks of share.AB's other top subpremium brand, Natty Light, dipped slightly under 5.3 mil bbls, holding onto #8 rank by volume. Heineken Original is the next largest individual beer brand, down to 3.2 mil bbls in the US, we estimate. But both White Claw and Twisted Tea brand families are now larger than Heineken Original all channel, at 5 mil bbls and 3.45 mil bbls, respectively. Heineken brand fam was still slightly ahead of Twisted Tea family including Heineken 0.0 and other extensions.More detail on 2024 trends for the industry's top brewers, brands, segments and more in our comprehensive annual data compendium, Beer Industry Update.

Bud Light Still #1 Brand by Vol in US Last Yr but Especial & Ultra Closing In; MC Top Brands Held Share, Dipped in Rank; Busch Light Passed Bud

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