Brandtree

Who owns Strongbow?

Strongbow is owned by Heineken (the Netherlands, AEX: HEIA), which acquired the brand on 28 April 2008.[1][2] Strongbow was founded in 1962 in the United Kingdom and was independent until 2008.

This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.

Key facts

Current owner
Heineken N.V. reported
Owned since
· deal details
Acquisition price
£7.8 billion (enterprise value)
Previous owner
Independent (1962–2008)
Owner HQ
🇳🇱 Netherlands, Amsterdam
Origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Founded
1962
Category
BeveragesBeer › Cider
Parent ticker
AEX: HEIA
Last verified
· 2 sources

About Strongbow

Strongbow is a British cider launched in 1962 and named after the Norman earl who invaded Ireland, and it became the largest cider brand in the United Kingdom. Heineken acquired it with Scottish & Newcastle in 2008, and it is now sold across Europe, Australia and the United States.

Ownership timeline of Strongbow

Owners of Strongbow from 2008 to 2026 Heineken 2008–present Heineken 2010201520202025
  1. 2008 – present Heineken acquired 28 April 2008 [1][2] reported

Where Strongbow sits in Heineken

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where Strongbow sits in Heineken Tree of 11 brands under Heineken. Heineken Strongbow Affligem Amstel Birra Moretti Cruzcampo Desperados and 5 more

Open the full Heineken ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Heineken in beverages

See the full Heineken brand portfolio (11) →

Deals involving Strongbow

Acquisition closed

Heineken and Carlsberg acquires Strongbow and Kronenbourg 1664

Heineken and Carlsberg bid jointly for Scottish & Newcastle at about GBP 7.8 billion and split it between them rather than one buying the whole company. Heineken took the British and Irish business including Strongbow, Carlsberg took the French and Russian operations including Kronenbourg. A joint bid to divide a target is unusual, and it is why two competing brewers date their ownership of these brands to the same day.

Value
£7.8bn
Seller
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about Strongbow

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of Strongbow?

The parent company of Strongbow is Heineken, a publicly listed company headquartered in the Netherlands.

Is Strongbow British or Dutch?

Strongbow originated in the United Kingdom in 1962, but it is owned today by Heineken, which is headquartered in the Netherlands. So Strongbow is a British-origin brand under Dutch ownership.

When did Heineken buy Strongbow?

Heineken completed its acquisition of Strongbow on 28 April 2008, after announcing the deal on 25 January 2008.

Who owned Strongbow before Heineken?

Strongbow was an independent company from its founding in 1962 until Heineken acquired it in 2008.

Is Strongbow still owned by Heineken?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Strongbow is still owned by Heineken. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2025 — Heineken N.V., Annual report, published 11 February 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
  2. [2] Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2008 - acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle — Heineken N.V., Annual report, published 28 April 2008; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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