BeatBox Beverages to cut 158 jobs
The parent firm of ready-to-drink brand BeatBox Beverages is planning to lay off nearly 160 workers in Texas, just weeks after selling a majority stake to AB InBev.
BeatBox’s parent company, Future Proof Brands, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with the Texas Workforce Commission on 23 December 2025.
The notice said it would lay off 158 workers based at its headquarters in Austin, Texas, between 21 February and 7 March 2026.
“All affected employees have been notified of their expected separation dates and that their separation from employment will be permanent. Employees slated for layoff do not have bumping rights under the employee handbook or company policy,” the notice said.
Bumping rights, otherwise known as displacement rights, allow employees facing redundancy to take the jobs of colleagues with less seniority, often as part of a collective bargaining agreement or company policy. They are typically associated with US unionised environments.
The announcement came just weeks after brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) agreed to purchase an 85% stake in BeatBox Beverages for approximately US$490 million.
The Spirits Business has approached BeatBox and AB InBev for comment.
BeatBox produces a line of non-carbonated products in 330ml Tetra Pak boxes, using wine, malt and spirits as its base. The brand offers more than 13 ‘party punch’ flavours, including Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Juicy Mango and Orange Blast.
Subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, the deal with AB InBev is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. The deal provides the option to fully own the brand after five years.
At the time of the acquisition, AB InBev described BeatBox as a top 10 ready-to-drink brand in the sector. According to Circana data for the 52 weeks to 23 November 2025, BeatBox sold over US$340m in retail sales in the US off-trade, which represents growth of more than 50% year over year.
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