Heineken N.V.
Heineken's €36B portfolio balances premium predation with volume defense across 181 breweries in 70 countries.
Heineken maintains predator-prey balance across 181 breweries in 70 countries, generating €36 billion in revenue through strategic portfolio diversification. The world's second-largest brewer holds 12.9% global market share but succeeds through functional complementarity: premium brands (Heineken® grew 8.8% in 2024) subsidize regional volume plays (240.7 million hectoliters total), while non-alcoholic Heineken® 0.0 (up 10%) captures emerging niches.
This portfolio exhibits classic response diversity. When craft beer disrupts mass-market lagers, Heineken acquires specialist predators (Lagunitas, Founders) rather than defending territory. When health consciousness threatens alcohol consumption, the company pivots to zero-alcohol variants commanding premium pricing. Each brand operates semi-autonomously within geographic refugia—the Heineken® flagship dominates airports and premium on-premise, while local brands (Amstel, Desperados, Sol) defend regional supermarket share from AB InBev's 25% market-leading position.
The biological insight: apex predators don't maximize kills—they maintain hunting efficiency across diverse prey. Heineken's 20% premium segment share demonstrates this principle: profitability comes not from volume dominance but from strategic niche occupation across the €650 billion global beer market's trophic levels.