Amsterdam - Dutch brewing giant Heineken announced on Wednesday that it plans to eliminate between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs over the next two years as it responds to weakening beer demand and mounting cost pressures.
The world’s second-largest brewer said it would accelerate productivity measures to generate savings, citing “challenging market conditions” across several key regions.
Heineken has been warning in recent months that consumers are becoming more cautious in their spending after years of inflation and price increases across the beverage sector. The company’s latest figures showed global beer volumes fell 2.4% in 2025.
The decline was most pronounced in Europe and the Americas, where volumes dropped 4.1% and 3.5%, respectively.
Chief Executive Dolf van den Brink said the company remains cautious about short-term market conditions. “We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions,” he said in a statement.
The job reductions form part of a broader restructuring programme linked to Heineken’s long-term “EverGreen 2030” strategy. In October 2025, the company announced plans to reorganise its global head office, streamline operations and expand shared services and digital systems.
The brewer, which employs around 87,000 people worldwide, said the workforce cuts are aimed at improving efficiency and centralising certain functions.
The announcement comes as van den Brink prepares to step down after nearly six years as chief executive. He recently said he would leave the role with “mixed emotions,” having led the company through what he described as turbulent economic and political periods.
Looking ahead, Heineken forecast full-year operating profit growth of between 2% and 6% in 2026, signalling a more moderate outlook compared with previous years.
The restructuring underscores the pressure facing global brewers as shifting consumer habits, higher costs and slower demand growth reshape the industry landscape.
