urbanSTL

Arch City wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if St. Louis is eventually made the global HQ's - especially if local politicians, leaders and AB executives push for it.

They should start pushing for it- NOW. For a company that apparently values efficiency and cost-cutting so much, it makes sense.



I don't hold out much hope, however, given our track record.

What is InBev's corporate strategy?



Just to review:



Cutting costs is not a corporate strategy.

Becoming the largest brewery in the world is not a corporate strategy.

A desire to sell beer around the world is not a corporate strategy.



Those are the only things resembling a plan that I have heard Brito mention, other than not changing the "traditional" aspects of Anheuser-Busch, such as the museum, tours, Clydesdales, etc.





BTW, this is not a done deal yet. The A-B board approving the deal only means so much. InBev still has a few hurdles.

Just read David Nicklaus' chat on STLToday (he's been doing a great job covering the A-B/InBev deal, BTW).



I'm amazed at how many people's top priorities seem to be Grant's Farm and the freaking theme parks.



Good lord:

Eric: Is there any way to convince AB InBev to go ahead and move out of town? I would rather see the brewery closed than to have it run from Belgium.

David Nicklaus: I don't think very many people would share your opinion, Eric. Certainly I don't think the 6,000 A-B employees in St. Louis want to see it close.

I got this picture of the INBEV execs getting acquainted with their new digs down on Pestalozzi Street.

^



remove the " [/img] " from the link

We should stop whining and concentrate on trying to lure ever bigger chunks of "budbev" to st. louis ... it will be very hard to pull off - but maybe just maybe we can turn this into a win for the region ... we do have some leverage. BUD is now inbev's most valuable asset.

DeBaliviere wrote:I'm amazed at how many people's top priorities seem to be Grant's Farm and the freaking theme parks.

Between the panic associated with the theme parks and those that say they're going to boycott AB products, I'm not sure which stand is more short-sighted and utterly ridiculous. As much as I hate what's happening, as I said earlier, I think the surest way to shoot our community in the foot is to stop buying the local brew.



And, as jlblues reminded us, the deal isn't exactly done just yet. I'm not happy either, but some people really need to calm down.

southsidepride wrote:

Doug wrote:Support local business. Drink Schlafly.

yeah that's great but don't abandon Budweiser either, there are still thousands of St. Louisans employed by the brewery and we don't want the new company to have a reason to cut them.

I'm sorry but that's a terrible idea. Something tells me the future of a St. Louis brewery thats part of monolithic, world-wide beverage company has more to do with corporate vision than local residents buying Bud.



Instead, and especially for city residents, urge civic leaders to pave the way, or create the infrastructural environment, that would give A-B-Inbev a great reason to call StL home. In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

markofucity wrote:We should stop whining and concentrate on trying to lure ever bigger chunks of "budbev" to st. louis ... it will be very hard to pull off - but maybe just maybe we can turn this into a win for the region ... we do have some leverage. BUD is now inbev's most valuable asset.

Exactly. We can keep whining about the lemons, or we can try to make some lemonade.



(I know, it's probably a crappy analogy when we're talking about beer, but you know what I mean.)

ttricamo wrote:In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

I'll see if my dad is interested.

jlblues wrote:What is InBev's corporate strategy?



Just to review:



Cutting costs is not a corporate strategy.

Becoming the largest brewery in the world is not a corporate strategy.

A desire to sell beer around the world is not a corporate strategy.

Actually, I think those are all really great corporate strategies.

ThreeOneFour wrote:Exactly. We can keep whining about the lemons, or we can try to make some lemonade.



(I know, it's probably a crappy analogy when we're talking about beer, but you know what I mean.)

Make hard lemonade?



It's time to move on. It's time for A-B 2.0. How about assembling some newly-minted A-B millionaires (as investors) along with the brewers, marketing people and managers who know the beer business inside-out and stand a good chance of losing their jobs in the days ahead. Start up the next A-B - or at least the next Boulevard - right here in the city.

markofucity wrote:We should stop whining and concentrate on trying to lure ever bigger chunks of "budbev" to st. louis ... it will be very hard to pull off - but maybe just maybe we can turn this into a win for the region ... we do have some leverage. BUD is now inbev's most valuable asset.

++



-RBB

DeBaliviere wrote:

ttricamo wrote:In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

I'll see if my dad is interested.

If he lives in the city, he's our guy.

ttricamo wrote:In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

Hmmmm...



Nahhh, lets keep electing Democrat lawyers, bureaucrats, and career politicians. Look where they haven't gotten us so far!

DeBaliviere wrote:Make hard lemonade?

I was going to make that part of my suggestion, but then I thought about AB's mixed record with specialty drinks.

jlblues wrote:

ttricamo wrote:In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

Hmmmm...



Nahhh, lets keep electing Democrat lawyers, bureaucrats, and career politicians. Look where they haven't gotten us so far!

I know, I almost felt dirty for saying it but I can't help but think someone with business sense that's tax averse might help the Mound City to create healthy, long-lasting relationships with some (really) large corporations (not that a gigantically huge opportunity along those lines just presented itself.)



Here's another stunner for you: table the plight of the working poor and work to create a tax base that can both help the poor and sustain an middle-to-upper class presence within the city limits. Foster growth. Kill the city earnings tax!

ttricamo wrote:

jlblues wrote:What is InBev's corporate strategy?



Just to review:



Cutting costs is not a corporate strategy.

Becoming the largest brewery in the world is not a corporate strategy.

A desire to sell beer around the world is not a corporate strategy.

Actually, I think those are all really great corporate strategies.

Except that they can't be corporate strategies.

" In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office."



Yeah, because our current Republican President with an MBA has done wonders for the national economy

southsidepride wrote:" In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office."



Yeah, because our current Republican President with an MBA has done wonders for the national economy

Presidents can't do anything that does "wonders for the national economy" within their term, short of massive amounts of government spending, which, of course, usually does more harm than good. They can't do much to harm the economy, either. To date, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have had little, if any, effect on the economy of the United States. If you don't understand that, you don't understand economics.

jlblues wrote:

southsidepride wrote:" In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office."



Yeah, because our current Republican President with an MBA has done wonders for the national economy

Presidents can't do anything that does "wonders for the national economy" within their term. If you don't understand that, you don't understand economics.

well I guess all those Republicans who still tout Reaganomics as the cure to all our economic woes don't understand economics then.

southsidepride wrote:well I guess all those Republicans who still tout Reaganomics as the cure to all our economic woes don't understand economics then.

Depending on what you all include in "Reaganomics", no, they don't.

southsidepride wrote:

jlblues wrote:

southsidepride wrote:" In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office."



Yeah, because our current Republican President with an MBA has done wonders for the national economy

Presidents can't do anything that does "wonders for the national economy" within their term. If you don't understand that, you don't understand economics.

well I guess all those Republicans who still tout Reaganomics as the cure to all our economic woes don't understand economics then.

I'm sorry to have started this, and I consider myself a Liberal. However, I think you could clearly make a solid argument that the current political environment in the city of St. Louis has had a largely negative impact on our ability to lure and sustain business in the city. Now, we're faced with the great opportunity to solidify StL as a permanent fixture for ABInbev and a person with a solid, tax averse business background could make that happen. Bare in mind I'm directly using the example of Micheal Bloomberg in New York City.



My only two points:

1) A civic leader with a strong business background is whats needed to nurture a healthy relationship with ABInbev (and other companies, too).

2) Our city's earning tax, among other current political agendas, is hampering our renaissance as a great city.

^actually I agree with you about Bloomberg. I think Daley the Younger does a pretty good job in Chi-Town too. But comparing the job of the mayor of STL to that of Chicago or NYC is apples and oranges. In Albany and Springfield the state government is not so hostile to the interests of the cities.

ttricamo wrote:

jlblues wrote:

ttricamo wrote:In other words, vote a Republican with an MBA into our mayoral office.

Hmmmm...



Nahhh, lets keep electing Democrat lawyers, bureaucrats, and career politicians. Look where they haven't gotten us so far!

I know, I almost felt dirty for saying it but I can't help but think someone with business sense that's tax averse might help the Mound City to create healthy, long-lasting relationships with some (really) large corporations (not that a gigantically huge opportunity along those lines just presented itself.)



Here's another stunner for you: table the plight of the working poor and work to create a tax base that can both help the poor and sustain an middle-to-upper class presence within the city limits. Foster growth. Kill the city earnings tax!

When has a republican ever helped the poor? Some socially conservative, big business republican would be the worst thing to happen to this city. What have those out state republicans, who constantly bash and discriminate against St. Louis done. The last thing we need is them running sh*t in our city limits. Good thing this would never happen , but I do agree we should get rid of the city earnings tax.