Sales of Heineken brand boosted by the non-alcoholic variety

Netherlands | Heineken saw sales of its flagship brand rise 7.7 percent to 38.7 million hl last year, the highest increase in a decade, the company said on 13 February 2019.

Heineken attributes the increase largely to the success of its non-alcoholic variety, Heineken 0.0, which was launched in 2016 and is now available in 38 countries, up from 16 in 2017.

The growth boosted the Dutch brewer’s full-year figures. Adjusted net revenues were EUR 22.5 billion (USD 25.4 billion), an increase of 6.1 percent organically. Operating profit was up 6.4 percent to reach EUR 3.8 billion (USD 4.3 billion). Operating profit margin was 17.2 percent.

Heineken sold 234 million hl beer, an increase of 4.2 percent. 

“Going into 2019, we expect the environment to remain uncertain and volatile, Heineken’s CEO Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said. “Overall, we anticipate our operating profit (beia) to grow by mid-single digit on an organic basis.”