Heineken has said that, as a result of rising transport and production costs, the price of their beer will be rising by an average of 10,7 percent from January 1, 2023.
Heineken may have already increased prices by an average of 5,8 percent over the summer, but recently the brewery informed businesses within the Dutch catering industry that prices would be rising further in the new year.
Throughout 2022, Heineken said it had battled to keep up with the high rate of inflation and rising costs for transportation, energy, and raw materials in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. While the company told businesses it has worked to absorb some of the increased costs, some must be passed on to buyers.
This means that, as of January 1, restaurants and bars in the Netherlands will be paying an average of 10,7 percent more for any stock from Heineken. It’s likely that at least part of these costs will be passed on to customers. It remains unclear whether Heineken will also raise prices for shops and supermarkets.
“We see prices rising sharply worldwide. This also applies to us as a company,” Heineken wrote in a letter. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN), the largest union representing hospitality businesses in the Netherlands, has expressed their frustration with the decision, and has been in contact with the Association of Dutch Brewers to "express their dissatisfaction and ask for clarification.”