Juniper
Roderick van den Brink, Sales Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia (centre), pictured with Malaysia’s top 10 bartenders at the HEINEKEN Regional Bartender Finals 2026
Heineken Malaysia Berhad (HEINEKEN Malaysia) and Multi Bintang Indonesia brought together their finest bartender finalists at the HEINEKEN Regional Bartender Finals 2026. For the first time, top bartenders from HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Star Academy and Multi Bintang Indonesia’s Heineken® Star Quality Programme competed head-to-head in a showcase of skill, craft and professional excellence, marking a new chapter in the two companies’ shared commitment to developing hospitality talent across the region.
The event underscores the wider value that the brewing and hospitality industry creates across Southeast Asia. According to the latest Economic Impact Assessment, Malaysia’s beer industry contributes RM7.1 billion annually to the economy, generates RM3.3 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 52,000 jobs nationwide. By investing in programmes such as Star Academy and the Heineken® Star Quality Programme, both companies are supporting not just individual bartender growth, but the long-term competitiveness and professionalism of the F&B ecosystem. Beyond technical skills, Star Academy also trains bartenders in responsible service, equipping them to manage challenging situations, deliver verbal reminders to enjoy responsibly, and encourage consumers to never drink and drive.
Roderick van den Brink, Sales Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, said, “The Regional Finals underscore our belief that world-class hospitality experiences are created not only through quality products, but through skilled hospitality professionals who engage, educate and delight consumers every day. Bringing our finalists together with their peers from Indonesia gives them a chance to exchange ideas, learn from one another and gain recognition for their craft. This milestone reflects our shared ambition to elevate hospitality standards across the region while creating meaningful development opportunities for the talented people who bring these experiences to life every day.”
The title of HEINEKEN Regional Bartender Finals 2026 Champion was awarded to I Wayan Sudiana, who represented Bali through Multi Bintang Indonesia’s Heineken® Star Quality Programme on the regional stage.
In 2026, Star Academy evolved into a more accessible, on-ground training model, bringing trainers directly to partner outlets across Malaysia, including smaller cities and outskirt areas such as Miri, Bintulu, Sandakan, Alor Setar and Port Dickson. The programme reached more than 600 partner outlets nationwide and is expected to upskill a record-breaking 2,500 bartenders in 2026, adding to the more than 12,000 bartenders trained since the programme’s inception.
The Regional Bartender Finals served as the culmination of months of training, assessments and outlet-level competitions across both countries. Competitors were assessed by a distinguished panel of judges, including special guest judge Jason Dennis D’Cruz, 2024 HEINEKEN Global Draught Champion, and tested on their speed and accuracy under pressure, ability to engage and educate guests, and overall technical mastery of the Star Quality Pour.
As consumer expectations continue to evolve, HEINEKEN Malaysia remains focused on supporting the people behind every great hospitality experience, from bartenders and outlet owners to the wider hospitality ecosystem. For more information on the Group’s initiatives, please visit www.heinekenmalaysia.com.
