Heineken ordered to pay 111 million euros to Vergina brewer

On October 21, 2026, the District Court of Amsterdam ruled that the brewing giant Heineken must pay 111 million euros in damages to the Macedonian Thracian Brewery, the producer of Vergina beer. The ruling concludes a long-standing legal battle regarding unfair competition practices in the Greek market between 1998 and 2014.

The compensation is divided into 43 million euros for actual damages sustained by the Greek brewery and 68 million euros in accumulated interest. The case originates from a 2015 decision by the Hellenic Competition Commission, which found that Heineken's subsidiary, Athenian Brewery, abused its dominant market position to exclude competitors for over 16 years, resulting in a then-record fine of 31.5 million euros.

Heineken has publicly disagreed with the court's reasoning, particularly regarding the calculation of damages and the high interest component, which accounts for 61 percent of the total awarded sum. Consequently, the company has announced that it will file an appeal to contest the decision in a higher court.