Heineken will end its long-running sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League in August 2027, concluding a partnership that began in 1994 with the Amstel brand before transitioning to the flagship Heineken label in 2005.

The company confirmed the decision on 30 October following a strategic review of its global sponsorship portfolio, citing a renewed emphasis on investments tied closely to measurable value creation and return on spend.

The announcement follows news that AB InBev has entered exclusive negotiations with UEFA’s commercial arm, UC3, to become the global official beer partner across all men’s club competitions from 2027 to 2033.

The agreement, if finalised, would cover premier tournaments including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

Heineken stated that its exit from the competition aligns with an evolving global marketing strategy, focused on platforms that deliver high engagement and sustained brand impact.

The brewer confirmed continued investment in major global sports properties, including Formula 1, where it holds both title and sustainability partnerships, and Premier Padel, an international racket sport it joined as global beer partner earlier this month.

The company also extended its partnership with the UEFA Women’s Champions League earlier this month, securing rights for the 2025–2030 cycle.

Meanwhile, Heineken faces mounting pressure from investors to accelerate performance improvements. Industry analysts note that despite challenges faced across the global beer sector, the company has lagged behind market leader AB InBev in cost efficiency and volume momentum.

Investors argue that Heineken’s relatively larger brewery footprint and higher fixed costs in certain regions may require deeper operational changes, including potential facility rationalisation.

CEO Dolf van den Brink, who has led the €39 billion group since 2020, has outlined a dual-focus approach to sharpen efficiency and stabilise volume performance.

As part of its strategy presented earlier this year, Heineken committed to achieving up to €500m in annual gross cost savings through 2030, while concentrating growth initiatives on 17 priority markets and five core global brands.

The company aims to deliver mid-single-digit annual revenue growth with operating profit and earnings per share rising at a faster pace.

Van den Brink said he expects the beer market to return to approximately 1% volume growth annually once near-term macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical turbulence ease, with Heineken targeting performance ahead of the global category.

•From Left: Lekan Oladipupo, HSE officer, Mr. Godfrey Ojo, Head Internal Audit, Adeyemi Adefulorin, Risk Assurance and Control, and Adetona Olutope, Regulatory manager, all of Rite Foods Limited.

Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, Managing Director/CEO of Rite Foods Limited, says that the company’s success is deeply rooted in integrity, accountability, and respect for both people and processes.

He states this during an event to mark the company’s Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week 2025, held in Lagos.

The week-long observance emphasizes the company’s belief that compliance is not just a rule to follow; it is a culture, a value, and a way of life embedded in every aspect of its operations.

“At Rite Foods, compliance is not just a requirement, it is a mindset. It defines who we are, how we operate, and the standards we uphold.

We hold ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards, and this commitment shapes our relationships with employees, consumers, and partners alike,” he said.

Oluyemi Lawal-Daki, Head, Legal & Company Secretary, added that Compliance Week reflects the company’s proactive approach to ethics and governance.

“Our goal is not just to meet compliance obligations but to live them daily. Every employee understands that integrity and compliance form the backbone of sustainable business success,” she stated.

The Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, observed that Nigeria’s economic growth is not translating into improved living standards for its citizens.

Sanusi made this statement yesterday in Lagos ina keynote address during the 7th African International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF), themed “Africa Emerging: A Prosperous and Inclusive Outlook.”

Daily Trust reports that the conference was organised by Metropolitan Law and Metropolitan Skills Ltd in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Sanusi noted that while headline economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and inflation figures may appear impressive, they often mask worsening living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

“Economists tend to take a helicopter view of GDP and inflation numbers. These are beautiful statistics, but too often we lose sight of the small numbers that are absolutely crucial.

“A GDP growth rate of 5% or 6% may look good, but if it comes from one niche sector, the vast majority of the population could be getting poorer while GDP is growing.

Sitting in Lagos or Abuja and booking loans does not improve the lives of people in rural areas .

Inflation may decline, but the prices of basic food and medicines consumed by the poor may still be rising,” he said.

The emir called on Islamic financial institutions to drive inclusive growth by targeting the informal and rural sectors.

“Islamic financial institutions need to go to the bottom of the pyramid. You cannot talk about inclusivity if you are not where the people are.

Sitting in Lagos or Abuja and booking loans does not improve the lives of people in rural areas,” he said.