Heineken cheers rise in pint sales

HEINEKEN has cashed in on pub goers who carried on spending despite increased pint prices.

The Dutch brewing giant enjoyed surging demand across Europe and a recovery in Asian markets, even though the cost-of-living crisis continued to bite. In its half-year results, which beat estimates, it reported a 37pc rise in revenue to £13.7bn.

The brewer, which also makes Strongbow, Amstel and Birra Moretti, also said profits climbed 20.6pc to £1.8bn. Meanwhile, beer volumes were up 7.6pc compared with a year earlier in a sign that people are gulping down more beverages.

But boss and chairman Dolf van den Brink warned that consumers and businesses ‘continue to face an uncertain outlook’.

The average cost of Heineken’s drinks has soared 8.9pc in the past six months compared with a year earlier. Pint prices across the board have also risen 2.2pc over the past year in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.