Heineken and Cobra set to increase prices
Heineken, the world’s second largest brewer, is to increase the price of its beers due to the impact of inflation.
The firm, whose brands include Strongbow cider, Amstel and Heineken larger, said the move was unavoidable.
Chief executive Dolf van den Brink said: “These kind of price increases and inflation, I think we have not seen in a generation.”
The move comes after after the founder of Cobra beer also said its prices will rise because of “vicious” cost pressures.
Lord Karan Bilimoria told BBC 5 Live: “Virtually every business in every sector’ is having to contend with inflation, interest rate rises and tax increases.
“Our input costs in every way – bottling, energy – are up. Freight costs have soared, sometimes ten-times. Wages are increasing and on top of that there are labour shortages.
“It does mean that businesses have to put up prices. But the consumer is already feeling the squeeze. It is a really challenging situation for everyone.”
Neither firm has said how much their prices will go up by.
Marmite-maker Unilever, the bakers Greggs and sandwich chain Pret a Manger have all warned on price rises as their costs rises.
Heineken said its input costs were now set to rise by a mid-teens percentage due to the price of barley doubling compared to a year ago and aluminium prices going up by around 50%.
Transport and energy costs have also risen for the business.
