Heineken buys minority stake in Belize brewer

So Heineken has planted its flag in Belize, a small Caribbean country lodged between Mexico in the north and Guatemala in the west. On 11 May 2018 the Dutch brewer announced that it has acquired a minority stake in Belize Brewing Company, best known for its Belikin beers.

The firm is country’s major brewer and a subsidiary of Bowen & Bowen, which has been an importer and distributor of Heineken’s brands, Heineken, Amstel and Red Stripe, since 2016. Financial terms were not disclosed.

With a population of 370,000 people, Belize’s beer production of an estimated 340,000 hl in 2016 according to the Barth Report, translates into an average consumption of 92 litres. This is not to be shunned by global brewers out on the prowl for unchartered beer territories.

Moreover, as Heineken sees it, Belize has a fast-developing tourism industry and offers a lot of potential to grow the premium end of the market.