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Heineken has reduced its workforce by around 3,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles during the first half of 2026, as the brewer accelerates a programme to simplify its organisation and improve productivity.
The workforce reduction forms part of Heineken’s wider EverGreen 2030 strategy, which is focused on driving growth while creating a more streamlined operating model. The brewer said the reduction of approximately 3,000 FTEs had “materially advanced” its planned organisational changes.
The move comes as Heineken reported a 6.7% organic increase in operating profit for the six months to the end of June, reaching €2.17 billion on a beer equivalent (BEIA) basis. Operating profit margin increased by 55 basis points to 14.6%.
The company also reported organic net revenue growth of 2.7% to €14.83bn, while total volume increased 1.6% to 142.8 million hectolitres.
Heineken said productivity improvements were helping to fund investment in its brands and growth capabilities, with gross savings expected to come towards the upper end of its €400m-€500m annual target.
The brewer attributed these savings to a combination of measures, including expanding the use of new technology and optimising its supply chain network.
It has also been simplifying its operating structure. During the first half, nine operating companies in Europe were brought together into four Multi-Market Organisations (MMOs), while the company is downsizing its Head Office by approximately one-third.
Heineken is simultaneously expanding its HBS network, with around 3,000 roles expected to be moved into the service organisation, effectively doubling its scale. HBS currently has approximately 4,000 FTEs across centres in Poland, India, Mexico and Brazil and supports almost 40 operating companies globally.
The company said the combination of organisational streamlining, automation and technology would help improve productivity and enable savings to be reinvested in growth priorities.
“Productivity strengthens HEINEKEN’s foundation and funds our EverGreen growth ambitions,” the company said in its half-year results.
Alongside the workforce changes, Heineken is increasing its use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies across the business. AI is being deployed in areas including procurement, supply chain and support functions, while the company is also expanding its AI-powered commercial platform, MyFreddyai.
Despite the workforce reduction, Heineken’s first-half results showed growth across several key areas of its portfolio. Its global brands collectively increased volume by 5.3%, with Heineken itself up 5.3%. Premium beer volumes grew 6%, while its beyond beer portfolio increased 8% and low- and no-alcohol volumes rose 12%.
Performance was particularly strong in Asia Pacific and Africa & Middle East, where total volumes increased 11.6% and 2.9% respectively. Europe remained broadly stable, with total volume down 0.6%, while the Americas declined 3.4%.
The UK was among the markets highlighted for positive performance, with total volume and net revenue both increasing by low-single-digit percentages during the first half. Heineken said the UK business benefited from its pub estate, customer relationships and broad brand portfolio.
The company has maintained its full-year 2026 guidance, forecasting organic operating profit growth of between 2% and 6%.
Heineken said it remains focused on accelerating EverGreen 2030 while adapting its operating model, with productivity savings expected to offset a significant proportion of ongoing cost pressures.