Heineken has commenced operations at a new facility in Minas Gerais, Brazil, as part of a strategy to expand production capacity and strengthen its supply network in the country.
The EUR400m (US$461m) facility in Passos – Heineken’s first ‘greenfield brewery’ in the country – has an initial capacity of up to 5m hectolitres per year. The site will produce the namesake brand as well as Amstel for distribution primarily across Brazil’s south-east region.
According to the group, the facility operates on renewable energy through a combination of renewable electricity and biomass boilers for thermal energy. It also features water reuse systems that reduce consumption per hectolitre by up to 30%.
The project created around 1,200 direct and 11,000 indirect jobs during construction and currently employs 350 people, 60% of whom are local residents.
“The opening of our new brewery in Passos marks an exciting milestone for Heineken,” said CEO Dolf van den Brink. “It strengthens our global footprint and showcases our commitment to operational excellence and sustainability.
“Brazil is one of the most dynamic beer markets in the world, and this investment reflects our confidence in its growth potential and our dedication to delivering premium quality beers to consumers.”
Last month, Heineken revised its medium-term guidance, forecasting a mid-single-digit rate of sales increases as part of its ‘EverGreen 2030’ strategy.
