Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs worldwide as falling beer demand pressures profit outlook
Heineken plans global job cuts affecting up to 7% of staff as it lowers profit growth guidance amid weaker beer demand.
NETHERLANDS – Heineken has announced plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally over the next two years, representing nearly 7% of its workforce, as the Dutch brewer responds to falling beer demand and challenging market conditions.
The company, which produces brands including Heineken, Amstel and Tiger, said the job reductions will affect both brewing operations and white-collar roles across its global workforce of about 87,000 employees. The cuts are expected to take place in Europe as well as other international markets.
The announcement comes as Heineken, the world’s second-largest brewer by market value, lowered its profit growth outlook for 2026. The company said the restructuring is aimed at strengthening operations and improving productivity at scale.
“We really do this to strengthen our operations and to be able to invest in growth,” said Harold van den Broek, Heineken’s head of finance.
He added that some of the planned reductions are linked to previously announced measures affecting the brewer’s supply network, head office and regional business divisions.
The job cuts follow the surprise resignation of chief executive Dolf van den Brink in January, after six years in the role. Van den Brink, who is set to step down in May, had faced mounting pressure from investors to improve growth and productivity while operating with fewer resources.
Heineken said the workforce reductions are designed to “accelerate productivity at scale to unlock significant savings” as part of a broader effort to reshape its operating model.
In its latest results, the brewer reported a 1.2% decline in total beer volumes in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Despite this, net revenue rose 1.6% to €28.9 billion (US$31.2 billion), supported by growth in emerging markets including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Vietnam and India.
However, performance was weaker in mature markets. Beer volumes in Europe fell 3.4%, while volumes in the Americas declined 2.8%, reflecting softer consumer demand.
Heineken reported profit growth of 4.4% for the year but revised its forward guidance downward. The company now expects profit growth of between 2% and 6% in 2026, compared with the 4% to 8% range it previously forecast.
“In 2025, we delivered a resilient and well-balanced performance,” van den Brink said. “We gained share, drove cost and cash productivity, and increased investment behind our brands.”
He added that the brewer has been progressing its long-term EverGreen strategy, including the acquisition of FIFCO in Central America, Heineken’s largest deal in more than a decade.
“As EverGreen 2025 concludes, we have made meaningful progress and advanced major transformations that strengthen our fundamentals,” van den Brink said. “EverGreen 2030 builds on this with a sharper strategy, clearer resource allocation, and a stronger focus on value creation.”
Looking ahead, he noted that the next phase will involve “disciplined execution,” with productivity improvements and operating model changes expected to deliver cost savings over the next two years while the company remains cautious about near-term beer market conditions.
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