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First modification: 02/11/2026 - 19:27
The world's second-largest brewer by market value lowered its profit growth expectations for 2026 compared to last year, as the industry faces weak demand and changes in consumer habits.
Both Heineken and rival Carlsberg have announced they will cut jobs, while other beer and spirits makers around the world are also scrambling to cut costs, sell assets and slow production after years of poor sales.
The Dutch maker of brands such as Tiger and Amstel, along with its eponymous lager, has promised greater growth with fewer resources, seeking to reassure dissatisfied investors who say it has lost efficiency.
Of a workforce of 87,000, Heineken will shed between 5,000 and 6,000 over two years as it searches for a new chief executive following the surprise resignation of Dolf van den Brink in January.
The group, whose brands also include Guinness and Cruzcampo, had already carried out a cost reduction program of 2 billion euros last autumn, which would also imply the disappearance of hundreds of positions at its headquarters in Amsterdam.
In 2025, Heineken's turnover fell 4.7% to around €34.2 billion, reflecting a decline in several markets, although operating profit increased 4.4%, supported by cost cuts and efficiency improvements.
From inflation to the climate, they impact consumption
Sales throughout the beer sector are faltering due to consumers' financial difficulties and even bad weather.
But in addition to weak demand, alcohol manufacturers also face long-term threats, such as increased health warnings and competition from other alternative products.
New disruptive trends such as weight loss medications have also caused a decline in consumption, not only of beer, but of other non-alcoholic beverages.
Coca-Cola and its rivals have warned that they must accommodate these types of changes in tastes, which also include changing preferences for low-sugar products.
With Reuters and EFE
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