Heineken posts 2026 half‑year profit rise and volume growth

Heineken N.V. announced its 2026 first‑half results, reporting net revenue of €14.83 billion and operating profit of €2.17 billion on a BEA basis, a 6.7 % organic increase. Total beer volume rose 1.6 % to 142.8 million hectolitres, driven by a 5.3 % gain for the Heineken brand and a 23.2 % jump in licensed volume. Premium and low‑alcohol segments led growth, with premium volumes up 6 % and non‑alcoholic/low‑alcohol drinks up 12 %. The company cut roughly 3,000 full‑time positions as part of its EverGreen 2030 transformation, advancing cost‑saving targets of €400‑€500 million. Free operating cash flow reached €1.4 billion and the second tranche of a €1.5 billion share‑buyback programme remains on schedule, with an interim dividend of €0.76 per share. Strong performance was noted in Spain, the United Kingdom and Brazil, where premium brands and new low‑alcohol offerings boosted market share. CFO Harold van den Broek said Heineken remains confident in its strategy despite ongoing macro‑economic and geopolitical uncertainty.