Heineken NV, the world’s second-largest brewer, reported first-half profit that beat analyst estimates, helped by warm summer weather in Europe and growing demand for more expensive beers in Asia.
Adjusted operating profit rose 5.9%, to €1.81 billion ($2.12 billion), the Amsterdam-based company said in a statement. Analysts had expected €1.75 billion.
Positive Contribution
“We delivered strong results in the first half of the year, with all four regions contributing positively to organic growth in volume, revenue and operating profit,” chief executive officer Jean-François van Boxmeer said in a statement.
“Europe delivered a good performance, momentum remained strong in the Americas and Asia Pacific, and results improved in Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, despite continued difficult market conditions.”
Asian Growth
Heineken’s Tiger brand has driven growth in Vietnam, one of the company’s largest markets alongside Mexico and Nigeria, where it has increased prices. Larger rival Anheuser-Busch InBev NV reported earnings that soared past estimates last week, on cost-cutting after its acquisition of SABMiller. Heineken has bid for 1,900 pubs from Punch Taverns in the UK and is doubling down on investment in Africa, having opened a brewery in Ivory Coast this year and expanded operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Heineken’s beer volume rose 2.6% on an organic basis, compared with the estimate of 1.8%.
News by Bloomberg, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
