Heineken is in the process of constructing a new research & development facility in its home country at a cost of EUR45m (US$48m).
The Dr H P Heineken Centre, the build of which should complete by mid-2025, will “play a leading role within Heineken’s global R&D network, which includes hubs in Mexico, South Africa and South-East Asia”, the company said today. Located in Zoeterwoude in the Netherlands, the facility sits next to what Heineken claims is the largest brewery in Europe.
Occupying 8,800 m² and set to home offices, laboratories, a “model service centre” and sensory research and packaging development departments, the centre is named after Henry Pierre Heineken, who succeeded the group’s founders, Adriaan and wife Mary Tindal in 1914.
“Since Heineken’s founding, innovation and technology have been the foundation of our success, ranging from our A-yeast, which has been providing the … taste of Heineken since the 19th Century, to the alcohol-free beer revolution led by Heineken 0.0,” said CEO Dolf van den Brink. “As the … heart within our global R&D network, this centre opens new possibilities to optimise flavours and processes and to bring innovative products to market.”
Delft University of Technology, which is based near Zoeterwoude, will collaborate with Heineken on biotechnology-based research in brewing,
Last month, the group booked a 5.1% lift in year-on-year sales from the first nine months of this year. The performance was ahead of rival Anheuser-Busch InBev’s +2.5% sales showing in the same period.
