Dutch brewing giant Heineken today announced a 25% rise in net profits for 2015, on the back of higher sales and favourable exchange rates.
The full-year net attributable profit was €1.89 billion, compared with €1.52 billion in 2014, while turnover was up 6.5% to €20.51 billion.
Heineken's chief executive Jean-Francois van Boxmeer paid tribute to what he called the company's "unique geographic diversity and our portfolio of premium brands."
The Amsterdam-based brewer had "continued to invest for future growth, by entering or expanding our presence in markets including Myanmar, Ivory Coast, East Timor, Jamaica, Malaysia, Slovenia and South Africa," he added.
Sales were highest in 2015 in Europe and North America where Heineken has teamed up with US craft brewer Lagunitas.
It also increased its dividend by more than expected and forecast higher revenues and profits in 2016.
It said it would propose a dividend of €1.30 per share, above the €1.10 it paid out last year and beyond the €1.26 expected by analysts.
Valued at around €35 billion, Heineken is the world's third-largest brewer after SABMiller and global number one InBev which are in takeover talks.
The company produces and sells more than 250 brands of beer and cider, and employs about 81,000 people around the world.
Looking ahead to 2016, the company said it expected to register more "profit growth despite an increasingly challenging external environment."
Meanwhile, Heineken Ireland said its revenues for last year came in at €512.6m, driven by new product launches.
It said it grew its share of the total Long Alcohol Drinks market by 0.3%, outperforming the overall market, which saw a decline of 0.1%. The Heineken brand remains the country's biggest selling lager.
Heineken Ireland also said the launch of its new cider brand, Orchard Thieves, last May was a big success.
"Orchard Thieves now commands an impressive 4.3% of total cider and outperformed the declining cider category," Heineken Ireland stated.
Heineken Ireland's brands include Heineken, Orchard Thieves, Desperados, Tiger, Coors Light, Fosters, Sol, Amstel Radler, Beamish Stout, Murphy's Stout its Beer Frontier specialty beers.
It employs over 500 people in Ireland.
