Heineken Restructures Global Hub, Cuts 400 Jobs

Brewing giant Heineken N.V. has announced plans to cut or reassign about 400 jobs as part of a sweeping reorganisation of its Amsterdam global headquarters.

The move is designed to accelerate the company’s digital transformation and enhance operational agility.

The world’s second-largest brewer, after AB InBev, stated that the restructuring is designed to leverage new technologies and drive innovation through enhanced data capabilities.

According to a company statement on Tuesday, the changes will support the rollout of 40 digital platforms intended to unlock the power of data and enable faster innovation.

Starting next year, Heineken said its head office will transition into a more focused strategic centre, a move that will affect 400 positions.

Some of the affected employees will be reassigned to the company’s business services unit, while others will have their roles discontinued.

Heineken’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink, explained that the reorganisation is necessary to keep the brewer competitive in a rapidly evolving market landscape.

“With a stronger, simplified, more agile organisation, we are well positioned to unlock new growth opportunities and innovation,” Brink said.

The Amsterdam-based company has been under pressure to enhance efficiency and adapt to changing consumer preferences, especially as inflation and high living costs dampen beer consumption in key markets such as Europe and the United States.

In July, Heineken’s shares fell after it reported weaker beer sales in the first half of the year, with declines particularly pronounced in mature markets.

Despite the sales slump, the company maintained its full-year guidance, projecting an operating profit growth of between 4 and 8 per cent, which remains its preferred performance metric.

Heineken, which produces well-known brands including Amstel, Kingfisher, and Savanna Cider, said the restructuring will strengthen its ability to leverage technology and data to respond faster to market shifts and consumer trends.

The company has been investing heavily in digital tools to streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer engagement across its global portfolio.

Analysts say the brewer’s latest move reflects a broader trend in the consumer goods industry, where firms are increasingly using digitalisation to drive efficiency and sustain growth amid competitive pressures.

With this strategic overhaul, Heineken aims to reposition its global hub as a leaner, innovation-driven centre, ensuring the brewer remains resilient and better equipped to capture emerging opportunities in the global beverage market.