Family business Heineken, Haiti and hospitals

Family business Heineken is synonymous with beer – after all, the Dutch brewery is the third-largest beer-maker in the world. But now, the company is looking to be associated with something a little different – helping rebuild earthquake-torn Haiti.

The brewing giant, controlled by the Heineken family, is reportedly planning to meet Haiti’s president Michael Martelly and the Clinton Global Initiative to put together plans to build hospitals and schools in the region.

John Nicolson, Heineken’s president for the Americas, told the Financial Times the investment was “small” and will not involve putting the brand name on any of the hospitals and schools.

The Caribbean island was hit by an earthquake in January 2010, with measures to rebuild the country still in progress.

“Corporates have audit structures and management that can run and cost projects well. That’s what corporations could add to charities,” Nicolson told the Financial Times.

The business has previously set up HIV and Aids clinics in various parts of Africa and has also bought stakes in a few Haiti-based businesses.

Founded in 1864 in Amsterdam by Gerard Adriaan Heineken, the brewing giant currently operates in more than 70 countries.