Heineken reported a strong first half of 2026, with revenue rising 3.8% to approximately £15bn, driven by organic growth across its key markets. The company’s net revenue climbed 2.7% organically to £12.7bn, bolstered by performance in Vietnam, Ethiopia, India, Brazil, and the UK. These markets have become critical to Heineken’s strategy, serving as engines for both volume and revenue expansion. Volume sales increased 5.8%, with gains in Asia Pacific and Africa and the Middle East offsetting a decline in the Americas.
Profit jumps as premium brands lead growth
Operating profit reached about £1.82bn, up from £1.2bn in the same period last year. The company attributed the rise to organic growth in all regions and a standout performance for main brands including Heineken. Premium volumes grew 5.8%, outpacing the overall portfolio, with Kingfisher Ultra posting double-digit gains. The results come as Heineken pushes ahead with its EverGreen transformation plan, which includes cutting 5,000 to 6,000 jobs over the next two years.
Harold van den Broek, Heineken’s CFO and executive board member, said the company had accelerated its EverGreen 2030 strategy in the first half. “We delivered volume growth and robust operating profit expansion, with all five global brands in growth and good momentum in our premium and beyond beer portfolios,” he said. “This performance reflects the quality of our growth, the resilience of our advantaged footprint, and our ability to adapt and execute in a dynamic environment. We took further significant steps to boost productivity and build future-fit capabilities, ensuring we drive further growth efficiently.”
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New CEO and cautious outlook
Looking ahead, Heineken expects operating profit to grow between 2% and 6%, considering the current impact of inflation and other macroeconomic conditions as well as investments in the EverGreen strategy. The company also confirmed a leadership change, with a new CEO set to take over on October 1.
While the Americas saw a volume decline, the company’s focus on premium brands appears to be paying off. Heineken’s results suggest its transformation plan is gaining traction, though the full impact of job cuts and market adjustments won’t be clear until later in the year.
