Heineken (HEINE) to Cut 6,000 Jobs Amid 2.1% Beer Volume Decline in 2025

Heineken (HEINE) announced plans to cut 5,000-6,000 jobs over two years amid a 2.1% decline in beer volume sold in 2025 and a 4.7% drop in revenues to €34.3 billion. Operating profits fell 3.2% to €3.4 billion as the company faces subdued market conditions and shifting drinking habits, particularly among younger consumers. Supporting context: The 35% of 16-24-year-olds not drinking any alcohol in 2024 versus 26% in 2022 reflects broader industry headwinds from rising costs, including business rates and labor expenses. Heineken recorded low-single-digit growth in zero/low-alcohol drinks, while its 0.0 Alcohol-Free Beer posted double-digit growth in 20 markets, including the U.S., Canada, and Spain. The company expects alcoholic drinks to rebound mid-to-long-term and is prioritizing faster innovation and sharper execution, with CEO Dolf van den Brink stepping down in May. The news prompted a 5.5% surge in early Amsterdam trading as analysts noted results were “better than feared” despite concerns over leadership transition.