Heineken has opened its seventh brewery in Mexico, located in Meoqui, Chihuahua, following a $500m investment.
Announced in 2015, the site will have a production capacity of 6 million hectolitres per year and produce brands such as Tecate, Dos Equis and Heineken for the Mexican market as well as for export.
Using 100% renewable electricity, the brewery is the largest greenfield project in the company’s history. Heineken said that the plant is constructed following circular economy principles, focusing on renewable energy and efficient water usage.
The windows in the brewery contain photovoltaic cells that will create approximately 12% of the electricity for the site. The remainder will come from wind power.
Heineken CEO Jean-François van Boxmeer
It will also have a wastewater treatment plant, which will allow the use of biogas in boilers and reuse treated water for the cleaning of shared facilities and the irrigation of green spaces. Heineken aims to use just two litres of water for every litre of beer produced by 2020.
CEO Jean-François van Boxmeer said: “Mexico is an important market for Heineken. With a developing economy, a rich geographical and demographic diversity and a flourishing beer sector, we see great additional potential here.
“I am proud that the Meoqui brewery will be one of our biggest and greenest breweries showcasing our long-term commitment to the country, the region and the environment.”
Governor of Chihuahua Javier Corral Jurado said: “Heineken’s new brewery in Meoqui will produce significant economic advantage to the area, which will be a reference for the state and an incentive for other industries.” The governor highlighted the importance of creating ties with the private sector to advance projects that drive progress and fuel the local economy.
Last year, global volume Heineken beer grew by 4.5%, one of the brand’s strongest performances in recent years, with double-digit growth in Mexico.
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