Brands like Cracker Barrel, Bud Light, and Target experience damaging releases from their marketing strategies

In recent years, several major companies have found themselves in the midst of controversy due to high-profile business decisions. The latest additions to this list include Target, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Target, a well-known retailer, has faced a prolonged boycott and the removal as a sponsor for a pride event, following its decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The "Target Fast" movement encourages Target stockholders to offload their holdings in the retailer as part of the boycott.

The uproar led to Target's decision to conclude its three-year DEI goals and end its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in 2025, as part of its "Belonging at the Bullseye" strategy. This move has resulted in its removal as a sponsor for the Twin Cities Pride Festival.

Andi Otto, Twin Cities Pride executive director, made the decision to boot Target from any involvement in this year's festivities due to its retreat on DEI initiatives. The rebranding effort covers changes across Cracker Barrel's 660-plus restaurants, including a new logo that no longer features an illustration of a man resting on a barrel, a defining symbol of the brand for nearly 50 years.

The fallout from Cracker Barrel's logo change and restaurant makeover led to shares of the food chain plunging, causing its worst losing streak in months. Shares of Cracker Barrel tumbled more than 12% on Thursday, the steepest drop since April. The new logo and other changes, such as decluttering dining rooms and a revamped menu, are criticized as a risky move for a company already struggling with thin margins.

Meanwhile, Anheuser-Busch InBev's campaign with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer, caused backlash with the brand's conservative customer base. The uproar against Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch InBev has caused Bud Light to lose its title as the top-selling beer in the U.S., with Modelo Especial surpassing it in sales.

In response, musician Kid Rock posted a viral video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light with a rifle. Atlanta-based Rev. Jamal Bryant urged consumers to avoid spending money at Target for the entirety of Lent.

Target isn't the only company facing backlash. Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry's, faced boycotts and divestment actions from pro-Israel groups and U.S. states after announcing it would cease distribution of its products in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In March 2024, Unilever spun off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, to become a leaner company.

The director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy at the Heritage Foundation, Richard Stern, spoke about the Cracker Barrel rebranding, stating that it could be a risky move for a company already struggling with thin margins. However, the future for these companies remains uncertain as they navigate the complex landscape of public opinion and business decisions.

Brands like Cracker Barrel, Bud Light, and Target experience damaging releases from their marketing strategies