Don’t call it a comeback: Bud Light re-enters the UK market after 16 years away
Bud Light is being relaunched in the UK, 16 years after the last attempt ended in failure.
By Sarah Vizard
Updated 5 May: Bud Light is bringing back its sister brand Budweiser’s iconic 1990s campaign, reimagining the Budweiser frogs for a new generation. Using CGI technology, it introduces a new character, called Light, to the pond, and an updated catchphrase Bud Light Beer.
Andre Finamore, Bud Light marketing manager, says: “More than 20 years on from its original release, we still receive comments from people who remember the Frogs and ask us if we are bringing them back. The launch of Bud Light in the UK is one of AB InBev’s biggest ever brand campaigns, to celebrate this, we’re playing on the nostalgic elements of one of our most iconic and memorable ads, whilst also giving it a uniquely Bud Light twist.”
Bud Light is forging a comeback in the UK, 16 years after the last attempt to introduce the US beer to the country ended in failure.
The light beer goes on sale in shops and pubs across the UK tomorrow (25 February). It has a much lower ABV than normal Budweiser, at 3.5%, and just 27 calories per 100ml.
The relaunch poses a somewhat unique marketing challenge to Andre Finamore, Bud Light’s senior brand manager. This is a brand with 63% awareness in the UK, according to Finamore, and 21% consideration despite the fact it cannot be bought over here.
This poses both an opportunity and a challenge, according to Finamore. He says the figures show there is “huge demand” for the brand already among British consumers and that Budweiser is simply looking to meet this demand. Yet that failure almost 20 years ago makes any attempt to reintroduce the brand an obvious risk.
Light beers have typically underperformed in the UK despite their popularity in the US. Many British consumers, particularly beer drinkers, have a negative perception of light beers. According to figures from Mintel, 56% of UK adults would rather drink less beer than substitute normal beer for a ‘light’ alternative.
However, things are slowly changing. Separate figures from Mintel show that the percentage of people drinking low alcohol beers, shandies and Radler (beers pre-mixed with lemonade or soda) has increased from 12% in 2015 to 14% last year. And the numbers that are drinking non-alcoholic beer are also increasing, up from 10% to 12% over the same period.
READ MORE: Why Heineken and AB InBev are promoting more responsible drinking
Products such as Fosters Radler have proved popular with British consumers, while Coors Light, another US import, is seeing an increase in sales.
Perfect timing?
Finamore claims the beer landscape is “totally different” now to how it was at the turn of the millennium when Budweiser last tried to launch Bud Light. “This is the perfect time to bring Bud Light to the UK. Consumers have changed immensely,” he tells Marketing Week.
“There are trends around moderating alcohol consumption and calorie intake that are important for consumers now. Our proposition is in line with this so we believe it will meet consumers’ needs from a functional point of view.”
He adds: “The light category has evolved a lot over the last few years, it is now much more established and familiar to consumers.”
Budweiser is also changing how it positions the brand this time round. Back in 1999, the product tried to play down than it was a light beer with the tagline ‘Not to be taken lightly’. Its alcohol content was also not much lower than normal beers, at 4.3%, while marketing campaigns quite aggressively focused on women with lines such as ‘I don’t chase men who can’t run away’.
This time round the ABV of Bud Light is substantially lower and it will look to promote a brand personality that is “useful, uncomplicated, easy-going and light-hearted. We want to embrace light as a product attribute and personality trait,” explains Finamore.
Details of the marketing campaign are being kept under wraps for now. But the marketing push will start in mid-March, once it has built up its distribution, with an outdoor and social media – including Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook – campaign aimed at “telling the UK we are here”. He says investment has been “huge”, calling it Budweiser’s biggest ever launch with outdoor spots bought in “iconic locations” across the country.
This will then be followed up by a wider campaign in June that will see Bud Light go on TV. That will focus on introducing the brand personality and telling a deeper story. The aim, for the first year, is to drive consideration and trial of Bud Light and then converting that to repeat purchases.
Bud Light will be particularly focused on women aged 24 to 30 that “don’t drink beer” or “might not be as into beer”. Finamore also expects to see some hardened beer drinkers switch to something lighter.
“There is an appeal in light beers even for beer drinkers,” he concludes. “It is a refreshing drink that we know will be appealing.” Budweiser will be hoping all this works and that it won’t have to beat a hasty retreat from the UK market once again.
Bud Light seems to have done their research in order to properly enter a new UK market, unlike the last time they launched in England. Research is always a key aspect of marketing especially when one is trying to be successful and get the attention of potential customers. I like that Bud Light will be branded for a younger crowd of specific drinkers in the UK because younger people are a big chunk of the market. Although, trying to make a beer seem “hip” to a younger crowd may be difficult as beers is not usually perceived in that view. I personally, do not see Bud Light and think “Wow, all the hip people drink this” but that’s just my perspective. If branded correctly, my hesitations could be completely wrong and Bud Light could get the attention of their target audience effectively. Also, perhaps a narrower target audience will allow Bud Light to succeed in a new market against a main source of their competition, Coors Light. However, the narrower market may lose potential customers that might lie just slightly outside the market but that may be the price to pay for Bud Light to take off in a new country, at least for now. I look forward to seeing how Bud Light does in the UK market.
I look forward to seeing them in our shops. I drink this when we go on holiday in Florida and have always found it to be a pleasant tasting beer.
The alcohol content might put some people off, but I will enjoy having it available again.
l am surprised at how often people in senior marketing positions cannot make the very real distinction between intention and behaviour. It is stated that there is “huge demand” which, based on the research, seems rather wishful thinking. Yes, there’s lots of consideration but see how little of that translates into actual behaviour.
As was once stated the greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.
Consumers want a regular strength beer that tastes good but has less carbs and calories. This will not do well long term as it is too weak.
Totally agree. The UK public wont buy a 3.7% beer. They can buy Coors instead. Should have left it at 4.3%