Tractor Supply Announces They’ll Stop Sponsoring Pride Parades, Eliminate DEI Goals After Criticism & Threats Of Boycotts

Didn’t want to become the next Bud Light…

After the controversy last year over Bud Light partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, the iconic beer brand lost billions of dollars and is still struggling to recover not only market share but also its reputation that it lost from ensuing boycotts.

And Tractor Supply clearly didn’t want to find itself in the same situation.

The retail chain has recently come under fire online after criticism over their implementation of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies, releasing videos about things like the importance of women voting (which seems pretty unrelated to selling farm supplies), and their funding for pride events and climate change initiatives.

Well obviously these are issues that aren’t exactly popular with the majority of their customer base. And though the criticism hasn’t been as loud or as mainstream as that against Bud Light, apparently it was enough to get the store’s attention.

Tractor Supply Company released a statement today announcing that they were ending several of the controversial initiatives and refocusing on their customers and mission, including redirecting funds from “nonbusiness activities” like pride parades and voting campaigns to instead focus on “rural America priorities including ag education, animal welfare and veterans causes.”

The chain also announced that they will be ending all DEI initiatives “while still ensuring a respectful environment” and withdrawing carbon emissions goals to instead “focus on our land and water conservation efforts.”

According to the statement:

“We work hard to live up to our Mission and Values every day and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart.”

Guess they were trying to head off a PR disaster like other companies have faced lately.

https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2024/06/27/tractor-supply-to-stop-sponsoring-pride-parades-eliminate-dei-goals-after-criticism-threats-of-boycotts/