The brewery that would later become Heineken N.V was founded in 1592 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. De Hooiberg (The Haystack) brewery was purchased by Gerard Adriaan Heineken the age 22, who dedicated his life to provide the best beer quality on the market. Adriaan Heineken produced the first beer under the Heineken brand name in 1863.
Nine years later Heineken’s Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij N.V was founded, which today known as Heineken.
On October 1, 1914, Henry Pierre Heineken became a director of HBM, and three years later he was appointed chairman, Henry Pierre Heineken, who held doctorate in chemistry, managed the company from 1917 to 1940 an continued his involvement with the company until 1951.
The company grew steadily and in 1931 they embarked upon their first international operation, joint venture with Malaysia Breweries Limited in Singapore. The brand prospered, penetrating export markets including the United States - where it was the first foreign beer to be allowed an import license at the end of Prohibition in 1933.
Business history of Heineken
