With volumes declining over 2025, the Dutch brewer says it is accelerating its 2030 strategy to streamline the company and make savings.
It announced the upcoming job cuts this morning as it released its FY2025 results: highlighting the challenging market conditions.
Heineken has a global workforce of around 87,000 people, meaning the cuts will equate to around 6% - 7% of its employees.
CEO Dolf van den Brink says the job cuts are ‘partly’ down to AI and digitalization: with new tools playing an important part of productivity savings. But the company has not yet specified the role types or locations that will be most affected.
Heineken is still on the hunt for a new CEO after Dolf van den Brink announced he’ll leave his role in May.
Heineken’s 2025 results
Heineken’s volumes declined 1.2% in 2025: in line with previous estimates from the company.
Heineken’s net revenue grew 1.6%, while net revenue per hectolitre was up 3.8%.
Europe was particularly hard hit: with net revenue down 3.2% and total volumes down 3.4%.
Brand Heineken (which includes Heineken, Heineken 0.0, Heineken Silver and other brand extensions) was a bright spot for the brewer: with volumes up 2.7%.
Dolf van den Brink says the company’s performance is ‘resilient and well-balanced’ given the challenging market conditions.
The global beer category faces several challenges: people are drinking less in general, while also looking to newer, flavorful alternatives such as canned cocktails.
Fellow European heavyweight Carlsberg also saw beer volumes decline 2.9% in FY2025; although its revenue rose 18% with soft drinks now counting for 30% of its portfolio.
And AB InBev has seen beer volumes decrease 2.6% over the year.
Will things get better in 2026?
For the year ahead, Heineken’s focus will be on reorganization: with a new CEO to come in and a reorganization of central office functions (around 400 employees are affected by role transitions).
The company’s EverGreen 2030 strategy will tighten its focus on cost savings: Heineken believes it can make savings in the range of €400m – €500m thanks to a productivity initiatives.
Heineken also pledges to increase investment in top performing global brands such as Heineken, alongside faster innovation to bring successful ideas to market.
In September it acquired long-term Costa Rican partner FIFCO, and integrating the beverage and retail businesses in Central America over the next year will be another priority.
And Heineken believes there’s still ‘meaningful room to grow’ in beer for brewers who embrace innovation and technology, tap into consumer trends and embrace the potential of emerging markets.
For example, Heineken’s net sales for its Africa and Middle East division were up 15.7% over the year, thanks to its key markets of Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Heineken expects operating profit to grow between 2% and 6% in 2026.
