• Heineken to cut 5,000-6,000 jobs globally by 2027
• 2025 sales volumes fell 1.2% amid weaker demand
• Company expects 2-6% operating profit growth in 2026

Dutch brewer Heineken will cut between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of a broader strategy through 2030, the world’s second-largest brewer said on Wednesday, February 11.

“We really do this to strengthen our operations and to be able to invest in growth,” Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek said.

For fiscal 2025, the Amsterdam-based group reported a 1.2% decline in sales volumes, reflecting weaker demand in key markets such as the United States and Europe, where consumers are cutting back on alcohol amid health concerns and pressure on household budgets.

The announcement comes almost five years after another major restructuring. On February 10, 2021, Heineken said it would eliminate about 8,000 jobs under a 420 million euro ($499 million) restructuring plan aimed at adapting operations to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, the company said the health crisis had severely affected its business in both emerging and mature markets, with prolonged closures of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, particularly in Europe.

Chief Executive Dolf van den Brink described 2020 as an “unprecedented year of disruption and transition,” as key financial indicators turned negative. Revenue fell about 17% to 23.7 billion euros, and the group posted a net loss of 204 million euros, compared with a net profit of 2.1 billion euros in 2019.

A Challenging Environment

The latest job cuts add to internal turbulence at the brewer, which markets more than 300 brands in over 190 countries.

In January, Heineken said van den Brink would step down after six years as chief executive. His departure comes as management continues to implement cost reductions and reposition the brand portfolio in a beer market seen as more dynamic but also more uncertain. In Africa, the restructuring will be closely monitored. Heineken is the third-largest brewer globally, behind AB InBev and Castel, with roughly 18% market share.

While van den Broek said the cuts would mainly affect Europe and lower-priority markets, the 2021 restructuring showed the impact can vary by subsidiary, depending on performance and outlook. Africa remains a key growth region for the group. For 2026, Heineken expects operating profit to rise between 2% and 6%, after increasing 4.4% in 2025.

Espoir Olodo