Heineken forecasts single-digit profit fall

Heineken, the world’s third-largest brewer, has lowered its guidance for full-year profit after beer sales in eastern Europe dropped sharply and slipped in Brazil and in its large African markets.

The group, which makes Europe’s best-selling Heineken lager, Sol, Tiger and Strongbow cider, said yesterday it now expected net profit before one-offs to fall by a low single-digit percentage this year on a like-for-like basis.

It previously forecast that net profit would be broadly unchanged from 2012. It said the stronger euro against a number of developing market currencies would have a negative €40m impact.