History
HEINEKEN today
Where we operate
The story began almost 150 years ago in 1864, when Gerard Adriaan
Heineken acquired a small brewery in the heart of Amsterdam. Since
1886 the unique Heineken A-yeast has guaranteed the pure premium
taste of Heineken® beer. After 13 years of prohibition, in 1933 Heineken®
became available in America and in 1937 the first Heineken® beer
was brewed outside the Netherlands, in what was then the Dutch
East Indies.
Over the ensuing years, growth and acquisitions substantially
expanded the Company, firstly in Western Europe and Africa,
followed by acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.
In 2010, HEINEKEN acquired the beer operations of Fomento
Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. in Mexico (including its US and
other export business) and Brazil, an acquisition that strengthened
the Company's leading international portfolio with the addition of
Dos Equis®, Sol® and Tecate®. In 2011H EINEKEN continued to create
new platforms for future growth by acquiring five new breweries
in Nigeria and two new breweries in Ethiopia. The Company also
started brewing Heineken® in Mexico and India.
Four generations of the Heineken family have been actively involved
in the expansion of the Heineken® brand and the HEINEKEN
Company throughout the world.
H EINEKEN is a proud, independent global brewer committed
to surprise and excite consumers everywhere. Four key attributes
make the Company different: Heineken® is the first and only truly
global beer brand, enjoyed in 178 countries around the world;
a unique, worldwide footprint with operations in 71 countries,
ensuring a broader reach for our brands than any other brewer;
an internationally diverse, dynamic, committed and entrepreneurial
team of around 70,000 employees; and the passion of the Heineken
family remains as strong today as it was in 1864 when we first started
brewing beer.
Wherever you are in the world, you are able to enjoy one of our
brands. We own, market and sell more than 250 of them. Our
principal global brand is Heineken®, the world's most valuable
international premium beer brand. Other international premium,
regional, local and specialty beers include Amstel®, Birra Moretti®,
Cruzcampo®, Desperados®, Dos Equis®, Foster's®, Newcastle Brown
Ale®, Ochota®, Primus®, Sagres®, Sol®, Star®, Tecate®, Zlaty Bazant®
and Zywiec®. Our leading joint venture brands include Anchor®,
Cristal®, Kingfisher® and Tiger®.
In addition to our global portfolio, HEINEKEN is the world's biggest
cider maker with brands such as Strongbow Gold® and Bulmer's®.
Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2011
HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer, thanks to our
global network of distributors and 140 breweries in 71 countries.
We achieve our global coverage through a combination of
wholly-owned companies, licence agreements, affiliates and strategic
partnerships and alliances. Some of our wholesalers also distribute wine,
spirits and soft drinks. In Europe, we are the largest brewer and our
brands are well established in these profitable markets. Due to our
acquisitions and joint ventures in Africa, Asia, India and Latin America,
we also have a strong platform for current and future growth
from these emerging beer markets.