Happy New Year 2025

Category: Business

Southwest to cut 15% of corporate staff, including senior leadership positions

Jack Otter and the panel discuss the downfall of Southwest Airlines’ popularity and how they could turn it around on ‘Barron’s Roundtable.’

Southwest Airlines cut 15% of its corporate workforce as it tries to rapidly reduce overhead costs to become a “leaner” company.

The airline said that the layoffs primarily target corporate overhead and leadership positions, including senior leadership and director roles. In total, 1,750 jobs will be affected, including 11 senior leadership positions, as the carrier strives to build a “leaner and more agile organization” under its transformational plan.

“We are at a pivotal moment as we transform Southwest Airlines into a leaner, faster, and more agile organization,” CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement.

SOUTHWEST TO PAUSE SOME HIRING, SUMMER INTERNSHIPS IN COST-CUTTING MEASURE

Southwest said most of the separations will be completed by the end of the second fiscal quarter, and will result in approximately $210 million in savings for fiscal year 2025 and $300 million for the full 2026 fiscal year.

The company expects to incur $60 million to $80 million in costs related to severance payments and post-employment benefits in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

Travelers use a Southwest Airlines Co. self check-in kiosk at Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., on Friday, July 19, 2019. ( Scott Eisen/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Southwest has made substantial changes to rein in costs, particularly after activist investor Elliott Investment Management took a $2 billion stake in the carrier and subsequently called on the airline to take actions such as making leadership changes to improve its financial performance.

Last month, the company announced it was halting certain corporate events and pausing some hiring and most summer internships, though it plans to honor offers that were already made, in order to limit discretionary spending.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told employees in a January memo that “every single dollar matters as we continue to fight to return to excellent financial performance,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Last fall, the carrier said it would be “minimizing hiring, optimizing scheduling efficiency, capitalizing on supply chain opportunities, and improving corporate efficiency” while implementing a “multi-year” plan to improve its finances. Southwest is aiming to achieve a $500 million run rate in savings in 2027, the company said at its investor day in September.

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LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 30.28 +0.35 +1.17%

During the investor day, Southwest also detailed big changes it has in the pipeline, such as offering assigned seats, evolving its boarding process and introducing premium seating. It will also start operating red-eye flights in February to “maximize aircraft utilization” and shorten the turnaround time for planes between flights.

FOX Business’ Aislinn Murphy contributed to this report.

February 18, 2025
Egg farmer hit hard by bird flu, results in 3 lost flocks

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch CEO Greg Herbruck shares how his business has been affected by bird flu.

Egg prices are continuing to rise, reaching levels not seen since inflation hit a high of 9% in 2022, hitting the wallets of consumers as well as America’s farmers.

Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, are primarily to blame. Entire commercial flocks, consisting of more than 1,000 chickens, have been wiped out as a result of the virus.

Greg Herbruck, a third-generation farmer and the CEO of Michigan egg production company Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, told FOX Business that the virus wreaked havoc on all three of the company’s farms, located about five miles from each other, forcing him to cull his entire supply.

The industry has been fighting bird flu since the outbreaks began in 2022. For Herbruck, it was the day before Easter 2024 when the company’s chickens contracted bird flu – a time he vividly recalls.

EGG PRICES AREN’T COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON, EXPERTS SAY

“It’s just like somebody takes a ball back to your gut,” said Herbruck, who wants officials to approve and fast track a vaccine that farmers can use to protect their flocks. “I’m just an egg farmer out here trying to say, ‘Hey, please, we need some help to fight this battle.’”

Herbruck said he went weeks without sleep, and by the time the third farm was infected, one of the company’s executives was crying in his office.

“It was just awful… just the nightmare of that many dead chickens,” he said.

Greg Herbruck, a third-generation farmer and the CEO of Michigan egg production company Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, told FOX Business that the virus wreaked havoc on all three of the company’s farms. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

This marks the fourth year that the virus has crippled farmers, with outbreaks continuing to emerge into early 2025. After the virus is detected, farms are instructed to kill their entire flocks to eradicate the disease, which significantly disrupts supply and raises the cost of eggs in the U.S. food system.

US EGG PRODUCTION DROPS AS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE ALONG WITH BIRD FLU CASES

The process to rebuild the operation is not easy, as it takes several months to get to a point where a farm can start producing large eggs again.

After getting clearance from the Agriculture Department, Herbruck said it takes about five months for a chick to reach maturity and to start laying a good number of large eggs.

Eggs at Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch. Michigan’s largest egg producer, specializing in organic and cage-free eggs. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

To expedite the process, farms purchase mature hens to begin laying eggs while simultaneously raising younger chicks. It can take up to two years for a farm to return to full production. In June 2024, Herbruck said the company began reintroducing birds to its farms, but are still operating at only 70% of their pre-outbreak capacity.

Meanwhile, his workers have been taking extra precautions. For instance, they are transported to a remote area where they can change clothes. Some workers are even required to change twice to minimize the risk of contamination.

BIRD FLU VACCINE: WHAT TO KNOW

Herbruck expressed growing concerns as the virus has now been shown to infect mammals. In March 2024, the virus was first detected in cows and has since infected 968 dairy herds across 16 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency last month reported 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since 2024, including one fatality.

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Michigan’s largest egg producer, specializes in organic and cage-free eggs. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

Humans can contract bird flu through contact with an infected animal’s body fluids, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Infection can also occur by inhaling small dust particles from animal habitats or by touching body fluids and then getting them into the eyes, nose or mouth.

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However, Herbruck is more concerned if the disease is airborne, which has not yet been determined.

“It’s not even possible to filter out that virus or to disinfect the air. These barns that may have 150,000 birds, we typically change the air every 30 to 40 seconds… so the idea that we might be able to somehow disinfect that air is not even reasonable,” he said.

In addition to the protocols farms are already taking, Herbruck said the tool that is still missing is a vaccine. While it is not perfect, “it’s something that can help us,” he said.

February 18, 2025
Panera Bread founder Ken Rosenthal dies at 81

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Panera Bread founder Ken Rosenthal passed away on Friday at the age of 81. He was surrounded by family and leaves behind his wife, Linda “Laya” Rosenthal, and their four children.

In 1987, Rosenthal started Panera Bread’s precursor, the St. Louis Bread Company. The small bakery used a sourdough starter from San Francisco, which Panera says it still uses in its “iconic sourdough bread.”

Ken Rosenthal, left, is the founder of Panera Bread Co. He and his son-in-law Craig Flom, right, are opening a fifth outlet soon in the Denver Tech Center. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)

WHO STARTED PANERA?

Clayco founder Bob Clark, who is married to Rosenthal’s niece, recalled on his website the day the Panera founder came to him with a “crazy idea” to start a bakery. During a trip to San Francisco, Rosenthal became infatuated with sourdough bread, the very item that would inspire his business.

“I was more than a little shocked by the immediate positive reaction to the bakery. Lines of people…crowds…enthusiasm…buzz…all of the things you would want to have happen, which led to multiple stores being opened in short order,” Clark recalls.

“I remember Kenny fibbing to me that his plan was to open only four or five stores when it turned out that he had much more ambitious plans. Thank God he did not take any advice from me about anything other than construction.”

In telling Rosenthal’s “phenomenal success story,” Clark remembers the Panera founder as “humble and with a great sense of awe and humor.”

Plates of food on the counter inside Panera Bread. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

TEEN RESUSCITATED AFTER DRINKING PANERA’S CHARGED LEMONADE, LAWSUIT CLAIMS

Rosenthal sold the chain in the 1990s and became a franchisee. The business he started was renamed, but its mission remained. The company says on its website that it still aims to put “a loaf of bread in every arm.”

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Panera not only carries on Rosenthal’s business legacy, but his philanthropic values. The company partners with 3,300 charities across the US to donate unsold baked goods at the end of the day through its Day-End Dough-Nation program, according to Panera’s website. Additionally, the company works to help “underserved and at-risk children and youth” through The Panera Bread Foundation.

February 18, 2025
Will you get a tax refund this year? Experts have ideas on how to use the money

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The Internal Revenue Service has doled out millions of tax refunds amid the ongoing 2025 tax filing season.

More than 8 million tax refunds have gone out during the 2025 season as of Feb. 7 and, according to the IRS, those refunds have averaged $2,065 each.

When taxpayers receive their refunds, addressing debt, socking away money in an emergency fund and contributing to retirement are some good avenues for using those funds, experts said.

TAX TIP: DON’T FILE UNTIL YOU GET ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

Debt

Jonathan Ford Jr., president of JFJ Advisory Services, said paying high-interest debt “would be one of my top recommendations” for people looking to put their tax refund to use.

“Any outstanding credit card debt would be very good to pay down, personal loans, anything financed at especially double-digit percentage rates but anything really above the current market rates could be a really good target for paying down,” he told FOX Business.

Meanwhile, Karla Dennis, the CEO and founder of tax strategy firm KDA, Inc., said tackling high credit card debt, specifically, could be a good use of someone’s tax refund.

U.S. household credit card debt amounted to a collective $1.21 trillion at the end of December, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

A woman holding credit cards. (iStock / iStock)

“The cost of their debt is eating away at the money that they could be spending on something else so I would definitely pay down all of my credit card debt” if possible, Dennis said.

Emergency Fund

“The next thing that I would do with the refund is, I would make sure I had some emergency money, at least $1,000 of emergency cash,” Dennis said.

Emergency funds give people the ability to “purchase things in the event of an emergency,” she said.

“If you maybe this month can’t make your rent, you can pull from your emergency fund,” Dennis continued. “With the price of consumer goods going up, especially food, you can utilize your emergency fund for that, but it really does need to be for an emergency-type situation. I think a lot of consumers look at saved money as ‘oh, let me use this money for want.’ It really needs to be a need.”

As record high inflation has prompted consumer prices to soar, many U.S. households are feeling uneasy about their emergency savings, a new survey released by Bankrate finds. (iStock / iStock)

Ford said putting money in an emergency fund “would probably be [his] top” recommendation for a tax refund, especially if someone doesn’t already have one or hasn’t fully funded theirs.

A recent U.S. News survey indicated 42% of Americans lack one.

“The emergency fund is pretty much always the number one thing that I have to look at before I come up with any plan, is make sure that we’re building out the emergency savings,” he explained. “The benefit of having the emergency fund is just being able to sleep at night and if you do have a $1,000 or $2,000 expense pop up … then you can pay that expense, and it doesn’t interrupt any other aspect of your financial life.”

He said he tells his clients to try to sock away “three to six months” in an emergency fund because it “provides a little deeper safety net.”

Retirement

Both Ford and Dennis also said tax refund recipients should consider setting some aside for retirement.

“Once I established my emergency fund, I would then invest some of that money, maybe in an IRA or a Roth IRA, even if I only put in a couple hundred bucks or $500,” Dennis told FOX Business. “I think consumers need to know that investing builds up over time, and you may or may not have the full contribution amount of, say, $7,000 or $6,000, to fully fund your retirement account, but if you could start building a nest egg now, which is putting in a little amount, I think that would be very helpful.”

Ford said he often tells clients to invest in a Roth IRA.

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“There’s additional tax savings there because in the Roth you only pay taxes on the money you contribute,” he explained. “Whereas with the traditional, you pay on the money you withdraw, and so you’re getting taxes on the growth as well, whereas you don’t in the Roth.”

Businessman in suit is holding piggy bank. Finance Savings concept (iStock / iStock)

More than 42% of U.S. households had some form of IRA in 2023, according to a report from the Investment Company Institute.

Should tax refunds be used on things other than finances?

With the arrival of one’s tax refund, there may be a desire to use some of it on something other than improving your finances.

“I do recommend, and I have myself always recommended, taking a small, small percentage of that – maybe less than 25% – and maybe treat yourself to something nice, if there’s something you’ve been having your eye on for a while,” Ford told FOX Business. “I do think buying something to make yourself happy is an important step in making sure you are able to stay on track with your financial goals.”

Dennis said it “depends on what your finances look like” whether you should treat yourself with your tax refund.

“Tax refund money is your money that you’ve allowed the government to keep all year,” she said. “You really need to establish a budget and, within your budget, there should be an allocation of a certain amount of money to go for fun things if you can afford it. But I think a lot of taxpayers are under the misnomer ‘Oh, this is extra money coming in to me.’ No, it’s your money that the government has kept.”

How long does it take for the IRS to distribute refunds?

The time it takes to receive a tax refund can vary, depending on how one filed their taxes, the IRS said.

TAXPAYERS LEAVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE TABLE AT TAX TIME: EXPERT

Taxpayers who filed electronically usually get them within 21 days, the agency’s website said. For amended or paper tax returns, refunds usually take four weeks or longer.

The IRS has a webpage where taxpayers can check up on the status of their refund.

February 18, 2025
Jim Jones, head of FDA’s food division, resigns after job cuts at the agency

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The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s food division resigned on Monday after stating widespread cuts across the agency will make it challenging to meet the Trump administration’s desired changes, according to a report.

Jim Jones cited the termination of 89 staffers in the food division, criticizing the layoffs over the weekend as “indiscriminate,” Bloomberg News reported Monday evening.

“I was looking forward to working to pursue the department’s agenda of improving the health of Americans by reducing diet-related chronic disease and risks from chemicals in food,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, according to the outlet.

FDA BANS ARTIFICIAL RED DYE: WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CONSUMERS

The head of the FDA’s food division, Jim Jones, resigned on Monday following layoffs within the division that he argues were “indiscriminate.” (FDA / Fox News)

Jones said it would be “fruitless for me to continue in this role” because of the Trump administration’s “disdain for the very people” needed to make the changes it wants.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Jones’ resignation, saying some “bureaucrats” are resistant to the “mandate delivered by the American people” in an email to Bloomberg News.

“President Trump is only interested in the best and most qualified people who are also willing to implement his America First Agenda on behalf of the American people,” she told the outlet. “It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.”

Jim Jones allegedly said it would be “fruitless” for him to continue working as the head of the FDA’s food division because of the Trump administration’s “disdain” for the people needed to make its desired changes possible. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The staffers who lost their jobs over the weekend include employees with “highly technical expertise in nutrition, infant formula, food safety response,” Jones said in his letter, noting that 10 terminated staffers were responsible for reviewing potentially unsafe ingredients in food.

Jones led a successful push to ban red dye No. 3, which had its authorization revoked by the FDA last month while former President Joe Biden was still in office.

MILLIONS OF GRANOLA BARS RECALLED DUE TO ‘POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF METAL’: FDA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump. (iStock / iStock)

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday after running a “Make America Healthy Again” campaign with Trump.

Trump has nominated Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary to lead the FDA, although he has not yet been confirmed.

February 18, 2025
How much gold reserves does the United States hold?

Making Money host Charles Payne addresses conspiracy theories over whether there is gold at Fort Knox.

Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could soon audit the U.S. government’s gold reserves based on the billionaire’s interactions on social media.

Musk on Saturday wrote a post on X questioning whether U.S. gold reserves are reviewed each year, to which Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., replied, “Nope. Let’s do it.”

“Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox? Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not. That gold is owned by the American public! We want to know if it’s still there,” Musk wrote on Monday. The post came in response to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, claiming he has been repeatedly denied access to Fort Knox.

He later posted about “Looking for the gold at Fort Knox” with a South Park meme saying, “Annnnd it’s gone.” Musk also responded to Alex Jones on X to say, “It would be cool to do a live video walkthrough of Fort Knox!”

ELON MUSK’S DOGE PREPARES TO AUDIT US GOLD RESERVES AT FORT KNOX AFTER URGING BY SEN. RAND PAUL

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk questioned whether gold is missing from Fort Knox and signaled DOGE could audit U.S. gold reserves. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Amid conspiracy theories about missing gold, the federal government periodically releases reports detailing its reserves of gold bullion and gold coins at its various repositories around the country. Those monthly reports include whether the gold is held in deep storage or in working stock that’s available to the U.S. Mint for the purpose of minting congressionally authorized coins.

It includes the weight of the gold reserves in troy ounces along with its book value in dollars. The book value isn’t the market value of the gold but instead refers to the total number of troy ounces multiplied by a value established by law ($42.222) that was established in 1973.

The market value of gold is about $2,900 per troy ounce as of Feb. 17, which is roughly 68 times the book value as prescribed under the 1973 law.

The Fort Knox military base in Kentucky is home to a gold bullion depository. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

WHAT HAS DOGE CUT SO FAR?

The Treasury Department’s most recently released update was published on Jan. 31 and noted the following:

Fort Knox – Treasury reported more than 147.3 million troy ounces of gold bullion held in deep storage at the bullion depository in Kentucky, which has a book value of over $6.2 billion.

West Point Mint – Treasury reported over 54 million troy ounces of gold bullion in deep storage at the depository in West Point, New York, with a book value over $2.2 billion.

Denver Mint – The report indicates over 43.8 million troy ounces of gold bullion are held in deep storage at the depository in Colorado, with a book value of more than $1.8 billion.

The treasury holds gold reserves, some of which are used by the U.S. Mint to create coins. (iStock)

DOGE ASKS PUBLIC FOR ‘INSIGHTS’ ON POTENTIAL WASTE AT SEC

Mint Working Stock – Across all treasury facilities, the report noted over 2.7 million troy ounces of gold held as working stock for the U.S. Mint to create gold coins. The reserves held as working stock had a book value of $117.5 million.

Federal Reserve Bullion – Treasury’s report listed two line items for gold held by the Federal Reserve at its New York vault – one item listed over 13.3 million troy ounces with a book value of $564.8 million, while the other listed over 73,400 troy ounces with a book value of about $3.1 million.

Federal Reserve Display Coins – The report also listed two line items for gold coins held for display at Federal Reserve banks. One of the line items listed 1,993 troy ounces with a book value of $84,162, while the other had 377 troy ounces and a book value of $15,936.

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February 17, 2025
Delta’s Toronto crash: CEO statement

Footage from Mark Fitzpatrick shows the plane lying upside down, and emergency services responding. (Credit: Mark Fitzpatrick via Storyful)

Delta CEO Ed Bastian spoke out following the plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday using his LinkedIn.

“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport. I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site. We are working to confirm the details and will share the most current information on news.delta.com as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, please take care and stay safe” he wrote on the platform where he is active, on corporate, business and aviation matters. Bastian became CEO of the airline in 2016.

The plane crash, which involved a Delta Air Lines CRJ-900 jet that had departed from Minneapolis, was first reported by CTV. The flight was identified as Delta 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, and carried 80 people all of whom have been accounted for.

The incident is the latest in a string of aviation accidents just this year including the American Airlines Collison with a Black Hawk Army Helicopter in Washington D.C. killing all 64 passengers and military crew. This was followed by a private medical flight that crashed in Philadelphia on its return to Mexico, killing 7 onboard and countless individuals on the ground.

DELTA TORONTO PLANE CRASH: LIVE UPDATES

The incident was reported at 2:45 p.m. local time. Pictures of the scene show the plane upside down and mangled on a snow-covered runway.

First responders work at the Delta Air Lines plane crash site at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada February 17, 2025. (REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey / Reuters)

DELTA CEO HINTS AT WHEN FLYING TAXIS WILL BE THE REAL DEAL

At least 15 people were injured with some being treated at local hospitals.

First responders work at the Delta Air Lines plane crash site at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada February 17, 2025. (REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey / Reuters)

The U.S. stock market was closed in observance of President’s Day, Delta shares will resume trading on Tuesday and have gained over 10% this year.

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Fox News’ Andrea Margolis, Christopher Guly contributed to this report.

This is a developing story.

February 17, 2025
WeightWatchers and lender advisors enter confidential talks for restructuring

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WW International and advisors to its lenders have reportedly taken a step in talking about potentially restructuring the company’s debt.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources, that WeightWatchers, which became WW International several years ago, and the lender advisors recently entered into a confidentiality agreement.

The company’s financial forecasts and strategy have been at the center of initial restructuring talks between the lender advisors and WeightWatchers, according to the outlet.

A sign for Weight Watchers is displayed at an office in Lower Manhattan, Oct. 19, 2015. (Brendan McDermid / Reuters)

The advisers are reportedly working to parse out what courses of action could be available to lenders with the information.

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FOX Business reached out to the company for comment on The Journal’s report.

WeightWatchers’ total liabilities amount to $1.69 billion, including $1.4 billion in net long-term debt, according to its most recent quarterly report.

In early November, then-CFO Heather Stark told analysts and investors the company had “sufficient liquidity for our working capital needs” and “attractive debt terms with no maturities for our term loan or senior notes until 2028 and 2029.”

“However, we acknowledge that our debt burden is significant with our net debt to adjusted EBITDA slivered ratio at 10.4x at the end of the third quarter,” she said. “As such, we have recently appointed advisors to assist us in the evaluation of options related to our overall capital structure.”

The company recently disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing it had borrowed about $121.3 million “under the senior secured revolving credit facility” that it has had since 2021 to “provide financial flexibility.”

WEIGHTWATCHERS CEO SIMA SISTANI OUT IN ABRUPT EXIT, EMBRACED WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS

“We continue to actively evaluate our capital structure and intend to explore transactions to strengthen our balance sheet and increase our financial flexibility,” WeightWatchers said in the filing. “We look forward to engaging with our lenders and bondholders in the coming months.”

The purpose of borrowing those funds was “not to address near term liquidity requirements,” it also said.

The company has been around since 1963. It has long offered weight-loss and weight-management programs and, more recently, has delved into access to weight-loss medications amid a surge in popularity of people using those drugs to slim down.

The WeightWatchers logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images)

WeightWatchers generated $601.5 million in net revenues over the first three quarters of 2024, including $192.9 million in the third quarter. It has seen a net loss of $370.8 million over the same nine-month period.

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“While our results in the third quarter were broadly on track with expectations, it’s clear we have significant work ahead to change the trajectory of the business,” interim CEO Tara Comonte said during the company’s earnings call in November. “This is an industry undergoing massive transition and as a result, WeightWatchers has experienced meaningful disruption over recent years. However, I am optimistic about our ability to lay a path to future growth.”

February 17, 2025
Bud Light exec reveals the ‘four things’ that made this year’s Super Bowl ad a success

UFC president Dana White reacts to making Bud Light UFC’s official beer after the beer giant faced intense backlash following its partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney on ‘Hannity.’

Bud Light’s Super Bowl ad starring comedian Shane Gillis, rapper Post Malone and football great Peyton Manning has garnered the brewer rave reviews online, and a senior executive attributes this success to “putting our fans first.”

“When beginning the process of developing our Super Bowl ad, we prioritized the core components of what makes a Bud Light commercial,” Bud Light Senior VP of Marketing Todd Allen told Fox News Digital.

Bud Light’s ad “Big Men on Cul-De-Sac” featured Gillis and Malone as suburban homeowners who come to a neighbor’s rescue after he “accidentally threw a lame party.” Together, with the help of Bud Light and Peyton Manning, the duo transform the party into an event so raucous that Gillis has to tell his neighbors to settle down lest he invoke the wrath of the HOA board.

BEER INDUSTRY EXPERT SAYS BUD LIGHT IS DOING ‘ALL THE RIGHT THINGS’ WITH SHANE GILLIS SUPER BOWL AD

Bud Light cans are seen in the store in Montreal, Canada on June 16, 2023. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The ad came seventh in USA Today’s ad meter, which had Super Bowl viewers rate their favorite ads from the game. It was the fourth most watched ad of the Super Bowl, Variety reported.

Allen attributes the ad’s resonance with viewers to four things: “Putting our fans first, delivering Bud Light’s classic humor, engaging an A-list cast who are both brand partners and genuine fans of the brand, and, finally, centering the spot around one of our platforms that celebrates easy enjoyment.”

“We wanted consumers to be able to see themselves, their friends or their neighbors in this year’s spot,” Allen said.

The ad won the beer maker praise from industry observer and publisher of Beer Business Daily Publisher Harry Schuhmacher, who told Fox News Digital that Bud Light “did all the right things” in the BMOC ad.

UFC’S DANA WHITE SAYS BUD LIGHT PARTNERSHIP WAS NOT ‘DETERMINED BY MONEY’

Former football quarterback Terry Bradshaw (L) speaks with Philadelphia Eagles owner, chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie as Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback #01 Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni watch after they defeated the K (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Bud Light has always been associated with a blue-collar working class. You know, relaxation, barbecuing, those, you know, country music, those type of deal situations and occasions, so yeah, it makes much more natural sense. They’ve done all the right things.”

The ad was a tonal departure from their controversial partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Longtime Bud Light drinkers revolted after the company partnered with Mulvaney, causing sales revenue to plunge.

However, BMOC appears to show that Bud Light has learned its lessons, with wholesalers praising the ad as a return to form.

Host Peyton Manning speaks onstage at The 2017 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“This ad is one of the best I have seen in my 40-year career. This ad opens up the Bud Light brand to all consumers and invites Bud Light into every home in America as an approachable and accepted American Lager,” Anheuser Bush/InBev beer distributor Col. John Saputo told Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025
Boeing’s new Air Force One presidential aircraft delayed until at least 2029

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Boeing’s new Air Force One jetliner that will eventually be tasked with transporting the U.S. president will be delayed until 2029 or later, FOX Business has learned.

An administration official confirmed to FOX Business’ Edward Lawrence that the next-generation Air Force One jet is delayed due to issues that primary contractor Boeing has attributed to global supply chains and changing project requirements.

“It is ridiculous that the delivery of a new Air Force One airplane has been delayed for such a long time,” White House communications director Steven Cheung told FOX Business.” President Trump is working on identifying ways to speed up the delivery of a new place, which has been needed for a while.”

BOEING ‘FIGHTING THROUGH CHALLENGES’ THAT HAVE DELAYED NEW AIR FORCE ONE PLANES

FOX Business reached out to Boeing for comment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

February 17, 2025