In the same month that Heineken opened an "experimental" area for visitors to the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, Jules Macken, the global innovation director for the group's flagship brand, led Global Drinks Intel editor Olly Wehring through the company's NPD process.You’ve been with Heineken for almost 16 years, the last 16 months of which have been in your current role.I've been in drinks my entire career. I started out in a wine and spirits company that was owned by C&C Group in Ireland. When I wanted to move home [to Ireland] from my position in the UK, I joined Heineken, where I
‘We’ve been the first in a lot of things’ – Heineken global innovation director Jules Macken speaks to Global Drinks Intel
‘What’s always been interesting to me is looking to see how we can address consumer pain points and barriers and to see how we can look to innovate.’

Olly has been reporting on the beverage industry as a B2B journalist since 2003. He spent 18 years at Just Drinks, 16 of which as managing editor. Since joining Global Drinks Intel in 2022, he's interviewed the CEOs for brand owners including AB InBev, Campari Group, Carlsberg, Heineken and Suntory Global Spirits and has a bulging contacts book from across beverage alcohol worldwide.



