Athens Brewery is involved in a legal dispute regarding competition issues, with a recent interim ruling from an Amsterdam court partially supporting their arguments against claims from Macedonian Thrace Brewery.
On February 18, 2026, the Regional Court of Amsterdam issued an interim ruling in a case involving HEINEKEN N.V., Athens Brewery (AZ), and Macedonian Thrace Brewery (ZMT). The lawsuit centers around a previous ruling issued by the Greek Competition Commission in 2014. The court appeared to agree with several key arguments put forth by Athens Brewery, although they disagreed with the finding that ZMT suffered significant damages. Athens Brewery maintains that the initial claims from ZMT, amounting to €82.23 million (before interest), are unfounded.
The court quantified the damages at €43.34 million (before interest), but the exact figure remains to be clarified. A final decision from the Regional Court is pending, contingent on a ruling from the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, which must determine whether Dutch courts have jurisdiction over ZMT's lawsuit against AZ. Athens Brewery plans to appeal following the eventual final ruling from the Regional Court. The ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of competition law in the context of the brewing industry, particularly between major players like HEINEKEN and regional breweries.
As this legal battle unfolds, it underscores the challenges that breweries face in navigating competition laws and managing disputes that can have significant financial implications. The outcome could set a precedent for future competition-related cases within the industry, affecting not only the parties involved but also the broader market landscape. Legal experts and industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring the developments in this case, considering its potential impact on competition regulations in the sector.
