Abstract
The Heineken company was started up in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken. In 1873 the brewery's name changed to Heineken's Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij. In 1874 Gerard Adriaan Heineken opened a second brewery in Rotterdam. In 1886 Dr. H. Elion developed the "Heineken A-yeast" in the Heineken laboratory. This yeast is still the key ingredient of Heineken beer. In 1887 Heineken switched to the use of bottom-fermenting yeast.
After World War I, the company focused more on export. During this period, Heineken tried to increase its stock price by purchasing competing breweries. In 1968 Heineken merged with its biggest competitor, Amstel, and in 1975 opened a new brewery in Zoeterwoude. The Amstel brewery was closed in 1980.
Now, Heineken owns over 119 breweries in more than 65 countries and employs approximately 54,004 people. It brews and sells more than 170 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers. Heineken claims that the original Heineken recipe has not changed since the beer was first produced nearly 150 years ago.
