Heineken N.V.


Heineken N.V., branded as The Heineken Company is a Dutch multinational brewing company, founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in Amsterdam. Heineken owns over 165 breweries in more than 70 countries. It produces 348 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders and employs approximately 85,000 people.
With an annual beer production of 24.14 billion litres in 2019, and global revenues of 23.894 billion euro in 2019, Heineken N.V. is the number one brewer in Europe and one of the largest brewers by volume in the world. Heineken's Dutch breweries are located in Zoeterwoude, 's-Hertogenbosch and Wijlre. The original brewery in Amsterdam, closed in 1988, is preserved as a museum called the Heineken Experience.
Since the merger between the two largest brewing empires in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, in October 2016, Heineken has been the second-largest brewer in the world.

History

Gerard Adriaan Heineken

The Heineken company was founded in 1864 when the 22-year-old Gerard Adriaan Heineken bought a brewery known as De Hooiberg in Amsterdam. In 1869 Heineken switched to the use of bottom-fermenting yeast. In 1873 the brewery's name changed to Heineken's Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij, and opened a second brewery in Rotterdam in 1874. In 1886 Dr. H. Elion, a pupil of the French chemist Louis Pasteur, developed the "Heineken A-yeast" in the Heineken laboratory. This yeast is still the key ingredient of Heineken beer.

Henry Pierre Heineken

The founder's son, Henry Pierre Heineken, managed the company from 1917 to 1940, and continued involvement with the company until 1951. During his tenure, Heineken developed techniques to maintain consistent beer quality during large-scale production.
After World War I, the company focused more and more on exports. Three days after Prohibition ended in the United States, the first Heineken shipment landed in New York. From that day on, Heineken has remained one of the most successful imported beer brands in the United States.

Alfred Henry Heineken

On 1 June 1941, Henry Pierre's son, Alfred Henry "Freddy" Heineken, entered the service of the Heineken company, which by then was no longer owned by the family. Freddy bought back stock several years later, to ensure the family controlled the company again, and in 1971 was appointed chairman of the executive board. He was a powerful force behind Heineken's continued global expansion, and while he retired from the executive board in 1989, he maintained involvement with the company until his death in 2002.During this period, Heineken tried to increase its stock price by purchasing competing breweries and closing them down. After World War II, many small breweries were bought or closed. In 1968 Heineken merged with its biggest competitor, Amstel, and in 1975 opened a new brewery in Zoeterwoude. The Amstel brewery was closed in 1980, and its production moved to Zoeterwoude and Den Bosch.

Recent history

Since mid-2007, Heineken has taken ownership of former S&N International brands such as Strongbow and Bulmers ciders and John Smith's and Newcastle Brown Ale beers. With the part acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle in 2007/2008, Heineken became the third-largest brewer based on revenues, behind the Belgian-Brazilian AB InBev and the British-South African SAB. Heineken owns the Czech brand Dačický, which was brewed in Kutná Hora from 1573 until Heineken took ownership of it and closed the brewery in 2009.
In October 2016, following the merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, Heineken became the second largest brewer in the world.
On 12 January 2010, Heineken International successfully bought the brewery division of Mexican giant FEMSA in an all-stock deal, expanding its reach throughout Latin America. The deal brought brands such as Dos Equis, Sol, Tecate, Indio, Bohemia and Kloster. Following the deal, Heineken started selling its products in Latin America through FEMSA's distribution network. The deal made FEMSA 20% owner of Heineken N.V. essentially becoming its largest single shareholder after the Dutch families who owns 25.83% and public shareholders owning 54.17%. The FEMSA acquisition is expected to keep Heineken in its strong position by growing its market share in the Latin American markets. FEMSA has a massive distribution network and owns Mexico's largest convenience store chain OXXO, which has thousands of locations throughout the country.Image:Former Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam.jpg|thumb|Exterior of the former Heineken brewery in Amsterdam on Stadhouderskade and Ferdinand BolstraatIn September 2014, it was announced that Heineken would sell its Mexican packaging business Empaque to Crown for around $1.23 billion. Also during that month, Heineken revealed it was in talks to sell its Czech operations to Molson Coors.
On 10 September 2015, Heineken International announced it would acquire a 50% stake in Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma in California as part of an effort to allow it to expand its operations globally. As part of the deal, Lagunitas would no longer be considered a craft brewer as the Heineken stake was greater than 25%.
In January 2017, Heineken announced it was in negotiations to buy the Kirin Company's 12 breweries in Brazil. The following month, Heineken closed the deal and bought Brasil Kirin for US$700 million.
On 4 May 2017, after previously acquiring 50% of Lagunitas Brewing Company, Heineken announced it would be purchasing the remaining 50% making it the sole owner of Lagunitas.
In 2018, Heineken signed an agreement with China Resources Enterprises to purchase a 40% stake into the company.
In June 2018, Heineken named Maggie Timoney as the CEO of Heineken USA, making her the first woman to become the CEO of a major United States beer supplier.
In June 2021, Heineken's stake in United Breweries of India increased to 61.5%, ultimately taking control of the company.
In April 2023, Heineken completed the acquisition of Distell and Namibia Breweries.
In May 2023, Heineken N.V. bought back €333 million in shares from FEMSA. FEMSA would no longer hold any shares in Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. other than the Heineken Holding N.V. shares underlying the exchangeable bond.
In August 2023, Heineken announced the sale of assets in Russia to the Arnest Group for €1 plus a €100 million commitment to repay domestic debt.

Global structure

Heineken organises the company into five territories which are then divided into regional operations. The regions are: Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, The Americas, Asia Pacific and Africa and the Middle East. These territories contain 115 brewing plants in more than 65 countries, brewing local brands in addition to the Heineken brand.

Executive team

The executive team of the company consists of the following people:
  • Dolf van den Brink, Chairman Executive Board/CEO
  • Harold van der Broek, Member Executive Board/CFO
  • Yolanda Talamo, Chief People Officer
  • Magne Setnes, Chief Supply Chain Officer
  • Bram Westenbrink, Chief Commercial Officer
  • Joanna Price, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
  • Ronald den Elze, Chief Digital & Technology Officer
  • Marc Busain, President Americas
  • Jacco van der Linden, President Asia Pacific
  • Roland Pirmez, President Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe
  • Glenn Caton, President Europe

    Brewing plants

Heineken's brewing plants have been designed and engineered in 4 main parts of the world.

Europe

Heineken has 23 operating companies in Europe:
Heineken has 9 operating companies in the Americas:
Heineken has 15 operating companies in Asia Pacific:
Heineken has 18 operating companies in Africa and the Middle East.
These include: