Heineken (HEINE) to Cut 5,000-6,000 Jobs Amid Weakening Beer Demand

Heineken (HEINE) announced it will reduce 5,000 to 6,000 roles over the next two years, implementing “accelerating productivity at scale” to unlock significant savings as softening demand and price sensitivity erode margins. Volumes declined in 2025, with Europe down 4.1% and the Americas 3.5%, and the company forecast 2%–6% operating profit growth in 2026. The cuts align with its EverGreen 2030 strategy to centralize operations, expand shared services, and advance digital transformation, reducing global headcount of about 87,000. CEO Dolf van den Brink, stepping down in January 2026, said the measures reflect “challenging market conditions” and a prudent outlook for 2026 beer demand.