Budweiser’s recent ‘Made in America’ ad campaign has been met with criticism as the company, owned by Belgium-based AB InBev, closes US breweries and lobbies for tax breaks. The ad, which features Clydesdales and a bald eagle, won USA TODAY’s Ad Meter as the most popular Super Bowl commercial.

Controversy Surrounding the Ad

The ad’s patriotic message has been called into question as AB InBev has spent millions lobbying US lawmakers for tax breaks, while also closing American breweries. The company has invested nearly $2 billion in US facilities over the past five years, but has also faced accusations of squeezing independent craft brewers out of distribution deals.

A white paper published by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) argues that AB InBev has built significant market power by pairing an ‘American’ marketing and branding identity with political muscle in Washington. The report warns against granting the corporation further tax breaks, citing its history of prioritizing foreign interests over American workers and communities.

Impact on Local Communities

The closure of Budweiser’s breweries in Fairfield, California, and Merrimack, New Hampshire, has affected hundreds of workers and their families. The company’s decision to sell its 75-year-old Newark, New Jersey, facility has also raised concerns about the impact on local economies.

Marketing and crisis-communications experts say that campaigns like ‘Made in America’ can carry real risk when a brand’s operating decisions don’t match its patriotic pitch. ‘Patriotic branding works when the audience feels the brand has earned the flag, not borrowed it for a campaign,’ said Heath Squier, founder at EVKII and chief AI officer at Joyrise Health.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.