Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs over next two years

Wednesday 11 February 2026 - 09:00

By: Sahili Aya

Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs over next two years

Dutch brewing giant Heineken has announced plans to eliminate between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs over the next two years as part of a large-scale cost-cutting and productivity drive. The company said the decision comes amid challenging market conditions and declining beer sales.

In a statement, Heineken said it intends to “accelerate productivity on a broad scale” in order to generate substantial savings. The restructuring follows a 5% decline in sales during the first half of 2025 and weaker overall demand in key markets.

The world’s second-largest brewer after AB InBev reported a 2.4% drop in global beer volumes in 2025, with Europe and the Americas particularly affected. Revenue fell to €34.4 billion in 2025, down from €36 billion the previous year.

Despite the revenue decline, Heineken posted a 4.9% increase in net profit before exceptional items and acquisition-related amortization, reaching €2.7 billion. Operating profit under the company’s preferred measure rose 4.4% year-on-year to €4.4 billion.

Chief Executive Officer Dolf van den Brink said the company remains cautious about short-term prospects in the beer market, citing ongoing economic and political uncertainty. In January, van den Brink surprised investors by announcing he would step down after nearly six years at the helm, referring to a turbulent global environment.

Heineken employs approximately 87,000 people worldwide. While the company has not specified where the majority of the job reductions will occur, Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek suggested that Europe — a core region for the group — is likely to be significantly impacted. He noted that achieving strong operational leverage in the European market has become increasingly difficult.

Looking ahead to 2026, Heineken expects operating profit growth to range between 2% and 6%, signaling cautious optimism as it moves forward with its restructuring strategy.