Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs citing AI and weak beer sales
Dutch brewer will cut 5,000 to 6,000 roles over two years to deliver 400 to 500 million euros in annual productivity savings through AI and digitization after a slump in volumes.
- Heineken will cut 5,000 to 6,000 roles, equivalent to up to 7% of its 87,000-strong workforce, over the next two years.
- The job reductions are aimed at securing 400 to 500 million euros in annual savings under the EverGreen 2030 efficiency plan.
- Around 3,000 roles will move into business services where technology and AI will be used to drive productivity gains.
- Total beer volumes fell 2.4% in 2025 while adjusted operating profit rose 4.4%, and the company is targeting 2% to 6% operating profit growth for 2026.
- Outgoing CEO Dolf van den Brink will step down in May after six years and Heineken is searching for a successor.
- The move echoes a wider trend of AI-linked layoffs, with consultants reporting about 55,000 US job cuts citing AI in 2025.