Dutch brewer Heineken announced on Wednesday that it will cut up to 6,000 jobs over the next two years, citing “challenging market conditions” and declining global beer volumes.
The company said the move is part of efforts to “accelerate productivity at scale to unlock significant savings,” reducing 5,000 to 6,000 roles globally.
Chief Executive Dolf van den Brink, who stunned the company last month by announcing his resignation after nearly six years in charge, said, “We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions. My priority for the coming months is to leave Heineken in the strongest possible position.”
Traders welcomed the news, with Heineken shares rising about three percent at the opening on the Amsterdam stock exchange.
Europe hardest hit
Heineken employs around 87,000 people worldwide. While the firm did not specify the main locations for the job cuts, Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek indicated many reductions would occur in Europe.
“Europe is a big part of our business,” he said, noting that weak operating leverage in the region is prompting targeted initiatives, although cuts will not be limited to Europe.
Global beer volumes fell 2.4 percent in 2025, with Europe and the Americas experiencing sharper declines of 4.1 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. In the fourth quarter, worldwide beer shipments were down 2.8 percent.
Total annual sales came to 34.4 billion euros ($41 billion), down from 36.0 billion euros in 2024. Net profit rose to 2.7 billion euros, a 4.9 percent increase on last year after adjusting for currency effects.
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Heineken forecast organic operating profit growth of two to six percent in 2026, following a 4.4 percent rise to 4.4 billion euros last year.
