Heineken Lanka Ltd, formerly known as Asia Pacific Brewery (Lanka) Ltd, is an Operating Company of the world’s 2nd largest Beer Company, HEINEKEN.
Heineken Lanka’s journey commenced in 1998, when it was known as United Breweries Ltd, which was changed in 2005 to Asia Pacific Brewery (Lanka) Ltd, when Singapore based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd invested in Sri Lanka. In 2012, HEINEKEN Group fully acquired the Singapore based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd, which resulted in the integration of the Sri Lanka business to the HEINEKEN Group, leading to the transition to Heineken Lanka Ltd as we all know today.
Today, Heineken Lanka is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Heineken Company and it is the second largest manufacturer and distributor of beer in Sri Lanka. The company has more than 300 permanent employees in the brewery and across the sales and distribution network that spans the entire country targeting more than a thousand modern, regular and traditional outlets. It is also the home of a diverse brand portfolio of 12 iconic brands, which includes the world renowned Heineken, Tiger, Anchor and a range of other global, regional and local lagers, stouts and ciders including our very own local pride, Bison.
Heineken Lanka operates a brewery in Mawathagama, Kurunegala, which has been in continuous operation over the past 20 years. Heineken Lanka, like all HEINEKEN operations globally, adhere to a strict set of international standards to maintain high levels of quality. HEINEKEN also sees sustainability as a driver for business success, and employs a strategy named ‘Brewing a Better World’ to maximize its potential as a sustainable business, and has set ambitious commitments and aims to embed sustainability across its entire value chain, from Barley to the Bar.
As a global leader in training and development, Heineken Lanka offers a number of development opportunities for employees, paving way for sharpened skills, experience and exposure, catapulting them to careers in the International arena. HEINEKEN Lanka also offers multiple opportunities such as Short and Long Term International Assignments, and the Asia Pacific Graduate Programme, giving local talent the opportunity to broaden their horizons, leveraging on the larger HEINEKEN network across the world. There is also the ‘Heineken Sales Academy’ where skills and capabilities of the company’s sales force are developed, arming them with internationally recognized skills, knowledge and tools to compete in the market.
Heineken Lanka is well on its way to be the “Next Gen” brewer in Sri Lanka offering innovative, diverse and sustainable products with superior quality and better agility, connecting with consumers and customers through digital capabilities.
Cheers to the next 20yrs and beyond!