17/04/2025
BEER SALES LOSE BUBBLE
Heineken Beverages is battling a drop in sales in South Africa, especially in beer and cider, despite its 2023 merger with Distell and Namibia Breweries.
While Namibia showed strong growth, South Africa struggled due to fierce competition and pricing missteps. Beer and cider volumes dropped by high single digits, and wine sales fell sharply as the company shifted its focus to more profitable products.
The merger was meant to boost Heineken’s African presence, but an 18-month pause in information sharing left gaps. Despite this, Heineken is fighting back with new launches like Savanna Neat and Bernini Mimosa.
However, broader economic challenges, from inflation to unrest, continue to hurt.
