Heineken announces 6,000 job cuts after CEO resignation and weak consumer demand

Heineken said it will cut up to 6,000 jobs globally over the next two years and lowered its profit growth expectations for 2026, as the brewer confronts weak consumer demand, rising costs and leadership uncertainty following the resignation of its chief executive.

The world’s second-largest brewer by market value said the productivity drive will reduce its global headcount by around 5,000 to 6,000 positions — roughly 7% of its workforce of 87,000 — as it seeks to unlock savings and improve efficiency.

The announcement comes shortly after the surprise resignation of CEO Dolf van den Brink in January. Van den Brink is set to step down in May, and the company said there was no update yet on the search for his successor.

Heineken has pledged to deliver higher growth with fewer resources, responding to investor concerns that it has lagged peers in operational efficiency.

The job cuts will focus on non-priority markets with fewer growth prospects, the company said, with further reductions expected through previously announced restructuring initiatives targeting its supply network, head office and regional business units.

Harold van den Broek, Heineken’s finance chief, said the measures are intended to strengthen operations while ensuring the company can continue investing in growth.

The brewer is facing a tougher operating environment across the global alcohol industry. Beer sales have softened amid strained consumer finances, geopolitical turbulence and weather disruptions, while longer-term declines in consumption in some markets have been reinforced by health-related concerns around alcohol.

Heineken said it expects operating profit growth in 2026 of between 2% and 6%, compared with the 4% to 8% range it guided for last year.

Despite the weaker outlook, the company reported annual organic operating profit growth of 4.4% in 2025, exceeding analysts’ expectations of around 4%.

The restructuring drive may have implications for markets such as Nigeria, where Heineken operates primarily through Nigerian Breweries Plc. The unit has faced significant operational and financial strain, including sharp losses driven by naira devaluation, inflation and foreign exchange volatility.

Nigerian Breweries reported a 79% rise in losses to N85.2 billion in the first half of 2024 and a record N106 billion loss in 2023, the largest in its 77-year history. The company has closed two plants and restructured amid diminished consumer spending.

While Heineken has implemented price increases to offset inflationary pressures, demand in several markets remains fragile.

The combination of cost cuts, a softer profit outlook and an impending CEO transition highlights the pressures facing consumer goods groups as they navigate shifting spending patterns and a volatile global backdrop.

Investors will now watch closely how quickly Heineken executes its efficiency programme and whether new leadership can restore confidence in the brewer’s ability to deliver sustainable growth in a slowing beer market.