Brau Union Österreich will raise beer supply prices in Austria by 2.9% on Dec. 1

Brau Union Österreich will raise the beer prices it charges retail chains and hospitality businesses in Austria by 2.9% starting December 1, the company said in a statement reported by the Austrian news agency APA on Wednesday, October 28.

The increase applies to supply prices for commercial customers, not directly to shelf prices or menu prices paid by consumers. How much of the increase reaches shoppers in supermarkets or customers in bars and restaurants will depend on the pricing decisions of each retail chain and hospitality operator.

Brau Union said the price increase was driven by higher costs in several areas, including wages and salaries, transport, raw materials and packaging. Simon Steyrl, a manager at the company, said in the statement that rising costs were putting pressure on the business across multiple categories. He said the brewer first tries to offset cost increases through internal efficiency measures, but cannot absorb all additional expenses.

The 2.9% increase is smaller than the 3.2% increase Brau Union introduced in December 2025. That means the new adjustment is 0.3 percentage points lower than the previous annual rise. The company did not publish updated price lists by product, so the effect in euro terms for individual beer brands or package sizes could not be calculated.

Brau Union is the Austrian subsidiary of Dutch brewing group Heineken and is the country’s largest beer company. Its portfolio includes brands such as Gösser, Zipfer, Kaiser, Puntigamer, Schwechater, Wieselburger and Schladminger. On its corporate website, Brau Union says it operates 12 brewing sites in Austria and employs more than 2,300 people.

The announcement adds to a broader pattern of annual pricing reviews by large beverage suppliers facing higher operating costs. For restaurants, bars and hotels, the increase may add pressure at a time when many businesses are still managing elevated labor and input expenses. For supermarket groups, the change will affect wholesale purchasing costs, though retail competition and discounting may limit how much of the increase is passed on.

Beer pricing at the consumer level in Austria often varies widely because chains frequently use promotions, especially on cases of beer, to draw customers. That means the final impact of the December 1 increase may differ significantly by outlet, region and brand.

Heineken, Brau Union’s parent company, was the world’s second-largest brewer by production in 2025, with 235.65 million hectoliters, according to industry supplier BarthHaas. The Brau Union announcement concerns the Austrian commercial market only and does not amount to a uniform nationwide increase in the price consumers will pay at stores or in restaurants.