Impact on developing markets

Heineken operates in a wide range of markets. One of our challenges is to run our business in compliance to our own Values and Business Principles and in accordance with what can be expected from a reputable company. It is often a belief that in developing markets, international companies do not get the balance right between taking and giving benefit. Increasingly, as we and others develop and implement tools which better allow us to assess this, we are finding out the facts so that we can take action if we see that the balance is not right.

The information in this chapter relates to operating companies where Heineken holds a majority share and has management control, unless it is clear from the context that it only relates to the specific companies mentioned in the relevant paragraph. The information in the section ‘Access to Health Care’ mainly relates to our activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.