Heineken N.V. (), branded as The Heineken Company, is a Dutch multinational brewing company, founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in Amsterdam. Heineken owns over 165 breweries in more than 70 countries. It produces 348 international, regional, local, and speciality beers and ciders, and employs approximately 85,000 people.
With an annual beer production of 24.14 billion litres in 2019, and global revenues of €23.894 billion in 2019, Heineken N.V. is the number one brewer in Europe and one of the largest brewers by volume in the world. Heineken's Dutch breweries are located in Zoeterwoude, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Wijlre. The original brewery in Amsterdam, closed in 1988, is preserved as a museum called the Heineken Experience.
Since the merger between the two largest brewing empires in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, in October 2016, Heineken has been the second-largest brewer in the world.
History
Gerard Adriaan Heineken The Heineken company was founded in 1864 when the 22-year-old Gerard Adriaan Heineken bought a brewery known as De Hooiberg (the haystack) in Amsterdam. In 1868, the brewery is transferred from the Nieuwezijds Achterburgwal to the Stadhouderskade. In 1869, Heineken hired the experienced Bavarian brewer Wilhelm Feltmann, and switched to the use of bottom-fermenting yeast. In 1873 the brewery's name changed to Heineken's Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij (HBM), and opened a second brewery d’Oranjeboom (the Orange Tree) in Rotterdam in 1874. In 1886 Dr. H. Elion, a pupil of the French chemist Louis Pasteur, developed the "Heineken A-yeast" in the Heineken laboratory. This yeast is still the key ingredient of Heineken beer.
Henry Pierre Heineken The founder's son, Henry Pierre Heineken, managed the company from 1917 to 1940, and continued involvement with the company until 1951. During his tenure, Heineken developed techniques to maintain consistent beer quality during large-scale production.
After World War I, the company focused more and more on exports. Three days after Prohibition ended in the United States, the first Heineken shipment landed in New York. From that day on, Heineken has remained one of the most successful imported beer brands in the United States.
Alfred Henry Heineken On 1 June 1941, Henry Pierre's son, Alfred Henry "Freddy" Heineken, entered the service of the Heineken company, which by then was no longer owned by the family. Freddy bought back stock several years later, to ensure the family controlled the company again, and in 1971 was appointed chairman of the executive board. He was a powerful force behind Heineken's continued global expansion, and while he retired from the executive board in 1989, he maintained involvement with the company until his death in 2002.
During this period, Heineken tried to increase its stock price by purchasing competing breweries and closing them down. After World War II, many small breweries were bought or closed. In 1968 Heineken merged with its biggest competitor, Amstel, and in 1975 opened a new brewery in Zoeterwoude. The Amstel brewery was closed in 1980, and its production moved to Zoeterwoude and Den Bosch.
Recent history
Since mid-2007, Heineken has taken ownership of former S&N International brands such as Strongbow and Bulmers ciders, and John Smith's and Newcastle Brown Ale beers. With the part acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle in 2007/08, Heineken became the third-largest brewer based on revenues, behind the Belgian-Brazilian AB InBev and the British-South African SABMiller. Heineken owns the Czech brand Dačický, which was brewed in Kutná Hora from 1573 until Heineken took ownership of it and closed the brewery in 2009.
In October 2016, following the merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, Heineken became the second largest brewer in the world.
On 12 January 2010, Heineken International successfully bought the brewery division of Mexican giant FEMSA in an all-stock deal, expanding its reach throughout Latin America. The deal brought brands such as Dos Equis, Sol, Tecate, Indio, Bohemia, and Kloster. Following the deal, Heineken started selling its products in Latin America through FEMSA's distribution network. The deal made FEMSA 20% owner of Heineken N.V. essentially becoming its largest single shareholder, after the Dutch Heineken and Hoyer families, who owns 25.83% and public shareholders owning 54.17%. The FEMSA acquisition is expected to keep Heineken in its strong position by growing its market share in the Latin American markets. FEMSA has a massive distribution network and owns Mexico's largest convenience store chain OXXO, which has thousands of locations throughout the country.
In September 2014, it was announced that Heineken would sell its Mexican packaging business Empaque to Crown for around €956M.Heineken to sell Mexican can, bottle maker to Crown. Reuters, 1 September 2014 Also during that month, Heineken revealed it was in talks to sell its Czech operations to Molson Coors.Heineken in talks to sell Czech operations to Molson Coors. Reuters, 9 September 2014
On 10 September 2015, Heineken International announced it would acquire a 50% stake in Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma in California as part of an effort to allow it (Lagunitas) to expand its operations globally. As part of the deal, Lagunitas would no longer be considered a craft brewer as the Heineken stake was greater than 25%.John Kell, "Heineken buys 50% stake in craft brewer Lagunitas", Fortune, 10 September 2015
In January 2017, Heineken announced it was in negotiations to buy the Kirin Company's 12 breweries in Brazil. The following month, Heineken closed the deal and bought Brasil Kirin for €664 million.
On 4 May 2017, after previously acquiring 50% of Lagunitas Brewing Company, Heineken announced it would be purchasing the remaining 50% making it the sole owner of Lagunitas.
In 2018, Heineken signed an agreement with China Resources Enterprises to purchase a 40% stake into the company.
In June 2018, Heineken named Maggie Timoney as the CEO of Heineken USA, making her the first woman to become the CEO of a major United States beer supplier.
In June 2021, Heineken's stake in United Breweries of India increased to 61.5%, ultimately taking control of the company.
In April 2023, Heineken completed the acquisition of Distell and Namibia Breweries.
In May 2023, Heineken N.V. bought back €333M in shares from FEMSA. FEMSA would no longer hold any shares in Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. other than the Heineken Holding N.V. shares underlying the exchangeable bond.
In August 2023, Heineken announced the sale of assets in Russia to the Arnest Group for €1 plus a €100M commitment to repay domestic debt.
In 2025, Heineken acquired a minority stake in the energy drink brand Tenzing, its first investment into the energy drink space.
In June 2026, the company announce that Rafael Oliveria would become its new chairman/CEO on October 1, 2026.
Global structure Heineken organises the company into five territories which are then divided into regional operations. The regions are: Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, The Americas, Asia Pacific and Africa and the Middle East. These territories contain 115 brewing plants in more than 65 countries, brewing local brands in addition to the Heineken brand.
Executive team The executive team of the company consists of the following people: Harold van der Broek, Member Executive Board/CFO Yolanda Talamo, Chief People Officer Magne Setnes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Bram Westenbrink, Chief Commercial Officer Joanna Price, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Romain Apert, Chief Digital & Technology Officer Alex Carreteiro, President Americas Jacco van der Linden, President Asia Pacific Guillaume Duverdier, President Africa, Middle East Glenn Caton, President Europe
Brewing plants Heineken's brewing plants have been designed and engineered in 4 main parts of the world.
Europe
Heineken has 23 operating companies in Europe: Brau Union Österreich in Austria Alken-Maes in Belgium Zagorka Brewery in Bulgaria Karlovačka pivovara in Croatia Starobrno Brewery in the Czech Republic H. P. Bulmer in Hereford in England John Smith's in Tadcaster, England Royal Brewery in Manchester, England Heineken France: Brasserie de l'Espérance in Schiltigheim Brasserie Pelforth in Mons-en-Baroeul Brasserie de la Valentine in Marseille Athenian Brewery in Greece Heineken Hungária in Hungary Heineken Ireland at Lady's Well Brewery in Cork, Ireland Heineken Italia in Italy Heineken Nederland in the Netherlands Żywiec Brewery in Poland Central de Cervejas in Portugal Heineken Romania in Romania Heineken Srbija in Serbia Heineken Slovensko in Slovakia Pivovarna Laško Union in Slovenia Heineken España in Spain, with breweries in Seville, Valencia, Jaén, and Madrid Heineken Switzerland in Switzerland Calanda Bräu in Switzerland
The Americas Heineken has 9 operating companies in the Americas: Commonwealth Brewery in the Bahamas Heineken Brasil in Brazil Brasserie Nationale d'Haiti in Haiti Desnoes & Geddes in Jamaica Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery in Mexico Cervecerías Barú-Panama, S.A. in Panama Windward & Leeward Brewery in Saint Lucia Surinaamse Brouwerij in Suriname Lagunitas Brewing Company in the United States
Asia Pacific
Heineken has 15 operating companies in Asia Pacific: Cambodia Brewery Ltd (CBL) in Cambodia Shanghai Mila Brewery in China Hainan Asia Pacific Brewery Company Ltd in China Guangzhou Asia Pacific Brewery in China (under construction) United Breweries Ltd in Banglore, India Multi Bintang Indonesia in Indonesia Heineken Lao Brewery in Laos Heineken Malaysia in Malaysia DB Breweries in New Zealand South Pacific Brewery Ltd (SPB) in Papua New Guinea Heineken Asia Pacific in Singapore Heineken Lanka (APB Lanka) in Sri Lanka Thai Asia Pacific Brewery in Thailand Heineken Vietnam Brewery Co Ltd in Vietnam Heineken Hanoi Brewery Co Ltd in Vietnam
Africa and the Middle East Heineken has 18 operating companies in Africa and the Middle East. These include: Al Ahram Beverages Company, Egypt Amstel Jordan Brewery, Jordan Harar Brewery, Ethiopia Bedele Brewery, Ethiopia Bralirwa Brewery, Rwanda Brarudi Brewery, Burundi Brasserie Almaza, Lebanon Brasseries de Bourbon, Réunion Brasseries du Maroc, Morocco Bralima Brewery, Democratic Republic of the Congo Consolidated Breweries, Nigeria Heineken Kilinto Brewery, Ethiopia Distel, South Africa Groupe Castel Algérie, Algeria Namibia Breweries, Namibia Nigerian Breweries, Nigeria Société nouvelles des Brasseries SONOBRA, Tunisia Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Sierra Leone Sedibeng Brewery, South Africa Tango Brewery, Algeria
Beer brands
Heineken International owns a worldwide portfolio of over 170 beer brands, mainly pale lager, though some other beer styles are produced. The two largest international brands are Heineken and Amstel; though the portfolio includes Birra Moretti, Edelweiss, Lagunitas, Sol, Desperados, and Tiger. Other regional brands include Affligem, Gösser and Sagres in Europe, Dos Equis, Red Stripe and Tecate in Americas, Bintang, Kingfisher and South Pacific Export in Asia-Pacific.
Ownership The shares of Heineken N.V are traded on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam and OTCQX under the symbols: HEIA and HEINY respectively. As at May 2023, the shareholding in the group's stock was as depicted in the table below: + Heineken N.V stock ownershipRank Name of Owner% Ownership1 Heineken Holding N.V150.52 Others49.5 Total100.00 Heineken Holding N.V is a public company listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. Its single investment is Heineken N.V. It is majority owned by L’Arche Green N.V an investment vehicle of the Heineken family and the Hoyer family.
Finances