I guess this shouldn't be a surprise.
How many employees is St. Louis losing?
How many employees is St. Louis losing?
Eh, I dont think it will be that big. In todays age, do you really need a centralized HQ? For someone like AB... yea put your top guys that travel everywhere based in NYC. Seems logical to me. If I was "old Inbev" I would be "mad" they are basing the HQ in the USA.. let alone NORTH AMERICA!
Plus Cisco Telepresence will take over the corporate world!
Plus Cisco Telepresence will take over the corporate world!
St. Louis didn't lose any Boeing employees when McDonnell-Douglas merged with Boeing and McD's WHQ transitioned to Chicago after the merger. I don't see reason for any big shakeup in this situation.
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Question to ponder:
If the world HQ of ABI moves to the U.S., does this make ABI 'American' again, considering their base is in NYC. Can they now call Budweiser the 'great American Lager' again, instead of the 'great American style lager'? Even though they claim that their HQ is still in Belgium, if they ever officially move the HQ to the U.S. ABI can claim they are an American company, even though they are primarily owned by non-citizens. I did hear Brito was working on U.S. citizenship. Go Brito!
PS_I thought most, if not all, of AB's ads suked! They were short and never 'laugh out loud' funny, like previous years. I think the 'too light/too heavy' ads are more funny than their SB ads. 5 of 6 ads (the Clydesdale ad done by a Chicago firm) were done by a local firm. Not at all impressed this year.
If the world HQ of ABI moves to the U.S., does this make ABI 'American' again, considering their base is in NYC. Can they now call Budweiser the 'great American Lager' again, instead of the 'great American style lager'? Even though they claim that their HQ is still in Belgium, if they ever officially move the HQ to the U.S. ABI can claim they are an American company, even though they are primarily owned by non-citizens. I did hear Brito was working on U.S. citizenship. Go Brito!
PS_I thought most, if not all, of AB's ads suked! They were short and never 'laugh out loud' funny, like previous years. I think the 'too light/too heavy' ads are more funny than their SB ads. 5 of 6 ads (the Clydesdale ad done by a Chicago firm) were done by a local firm. Not at all impressed this year.
Interesting reading.....The Brazilian take on things....
http://thebrazilianeconomy.com/american ... ilians.php
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/l ... hot-topic/
Quotes of interest from the article:
http://thebrazilianeconomy.com/american ... ilians.php
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/l ... hot-topic/
Quotes of interest from the article:
St. Louis is no longer the capital of anything.
The grief was so great that even Goldman Sachs, hired by the AB to assist in the defense against InBev’s offer, dubbed the Busch’s Crazy ( “Crazy” August Busch III, did not know what he wanted) and Lazy (the “Lazy,” his son August Busch IV, who did little to prevent the sale).
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The mystery man makes a public appearance....Luiz Fernando Edmond..
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... rt_of.html
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... rt_of.html
Classic Stltoday comment........(Notice the spelling of article)
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/l ... heres-why/
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/l ... heres-why/
been there done that June 5, 2010 at 4:21 UTC
so judgeing from the picture in this artical are u suggesting that the ABI are hireing caveman type to replace all those let go, or is this what the brazilins that came here look like?
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I wonder how many of the guys who stopped shaving also stopped watering their lawns? Slacktivism at its best!DOGTOWNB&R wrote:Classic Stltoday comment........(Notice the spelling of article)
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/l ... heres-why/
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AB staying in St. Louis............! I hope!
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 78c22.html
I'd hate to be mocking this article and Peacock's quote 5 years or even 25 years from now. The sad thing is that nothing is for sure, now that AB is part of a huge international conglomerate.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 78c22.html
I'd hate to be mocking this article and Peacock's quote 5 years or even 25 years from now. The sad thing is that nothing is for sure, now that AB is part of a huge international conglomerate.
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You are right that nothing is for sure but fwiw David Peacock is a local guy and a really decent human by all accounts that I'm aware of.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:AB staying in St. Louis............! I hope!
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 78c22.html
I'd hate to be mocking this article and Peacock's quote 5 years or even 25 years from now. The sad thing is that nothing is for sure, now that AB is part of a huge international conglomerate.
Re reading that article, I'm a fan of this quote
Apparently prior to the buyout InBev didn't consider quality nor the consumer.But Peacock pushed for the addition of some A-B core principles, such as a focus on quality, heritage, the consumer and brands.
"You are right," Peacock recalled Brito saying. "We need to bring those things in."
I've heard the same things.lukethedrifter wrote:You are right that nothing is for sure but fwiw David Peacock is a local guy and a really decent human by all accounts that I'm aware of.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:AB staying in St. Louis............! I hope!
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 78c22.html
I'd hate to be mocking this article and Peacock's quote 5 years or even 25 years from now. The sad thing is that nothing is for sure, now that AB is part of a huge international conglomerate.
But that doesn't change the fact that the accountants in Belgium run the show.
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Not at all.dweebe wrote:I've heard the same things.lukethedrifter wrote:You are right that nothing is for sure but fwiw David Peacock is a local guy and a really decent human by all accounts that I'm aware of.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:AB staying in St. Louis............! I hope!
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 78c22.html
I'd hate to be mocking this article and Peacock's quote 5 years or even 25 years from now. The sad thing is that nothing is for sure, now that AB is part of a huge international conglomerate.
But that doesn't change the fact that the accountants in Belgium run the show.
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lukethedrifter wrote:
Luiz Fernando Edmond is the man and who knows what kind of guy he is. He rarely talks publicly. I assume he lives in St. Louis. He has to interact with some people publically, be a member of a golf club, go shopping, send his kids to school (assuming he has kids) and live somewhere with neighbors. I'd love to know if St. Louis has grown on him, if he actually likes it here and is starting to feel 'something' for this great city. I am, by no means, naive enough to think that Edmond falling in love with STL would motivate him to fight for AB staying here, but you have to wonder. How does he fit into his new city, neighborhood and who actually knows him and what he is thinking. It would really be interesting to get into his head.
The only problem is that Peacock is not really 'the man'.You are right that nothing is for sure but fwiw David Peacock is a local guy and a really decent human by all accounts that I'm aware of.
Luiz Fernando Edmond is the man and who knows what kind of guy he is. He rarely talks publicly. I assume he lives in St. Louis. He has to interact with some people publically, be a member of a golf club, go shopping, send his kids to school (assuming he has kids) and live somewhere with neighbors. I'd love to know if St. Louis has grown on him, if he actually likes it here and is starting to feel 'something' for this great city. I am, by no means, naive enough to think that Edmond falling in love with STL would motivate him to fight for AB staying here, but you have to wonder. How does he fit into his new city, neighborhood and who actually knows him and what he is thinking. It would really be interesting to get into his head.
Interesting tidbit:
Alderman Donna Baringer, via my neighborhood newsletter, partially blames the recent water rate increase on AB. Seems that they are the City's biggest water customer, and have recently been able to cut their usage by 50% due to conservation efforts (there was also a dramatic increase in the cost of water treatment chemicals). Thus, the City must make-up the lost revenue via the little guys.
She also notes that AB "has offered its technical resources to the City water department in streamlining costs, increasing customers, and combining chemical purchasing power".
Alderman Donna Baringer, via my neighborhood newsletter, partially blames the recent water rate increase on AB. Seems that they are the City's biggest water customer, and have recently been able to cut their usage by 50% due to conservation efforts (there was also a dramatic increase in the cost of water treatment chemicals). Thus, the City must make-up the lost revenue via the little guys.
She also notes that AB "has offered its technical resources to the City water department in streamlining costs, increasing customers, and combining chemical purchasing power".
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Question:
Does anyone on the forum work at AB?
I am wondering if things have truly calmed down there, has INBEV completely integrated their management philosophy and is it a good philosophy?
Is the work environment really as bad as portrayed in the media?
Is it 'that bad' because the former AB was so great to work at and now it is like 'every other company'?
Is there still a fear of layoffs?
How do they pay now that INBEV is in charge? Do they give raises annually?
Is there a real belief amongst employees, that a move of corporate positions to NYC is going to occur down the road?
If you had an opportunity to work for AB, would you leave a job you really like to come to AB?
I'd appreciate any input, as I am 'exploring an opportunity'. Thanks in advance.
Does anyone on the forum work at AB?
I am wondering if things have truly calmed down there, has INBEV completely integrated their management philosophy and is it a good philosophy?
Is the work environment really as bad as portrayed in the media?
Is it 'that bad' because the former AB was so great to work at and now it is like 'every other company'?
Is there still a fear of layoffs?
How do they pay now that INBEV is in charge? Do they give raises annually?
Is there a real belief amongst employees, that a move of corporate positions to NYC is going to occur down the road?
If you had an opportunity to work for AB, would you leave a job you really like to come to AB?
I'd appreciate any input, as I am 'exploring an opportunity'. Thanks in advance.
PS_ Feel free to provide input even if the info you provide is second hand, as long as your source is credible and the info provided is accurate. Thanks again.
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General take on the Brewery: They’re not going to move the AB HQ from Saint Louis.
1. It is home to all operations, including executive, marketing, brewing, and distribution, and you can’t just pick that up and put it in a Manhattan high rise.
2. This includes thousands of local employees who are expert at their job in a very small but highly defined industry sector, much of this human resource power being resultant from the industry cluster that Saint Louis has developed over generations of workers.
3. Think about how much square feet of company office space is utilized at the AB Brewery, including the office tower next to the brew houses as well as the marketing operations across Broadway. What would they even do with all that space?
4. After the $75/share buyout, compounded with the global economic collapse, this company is incredibly aware of their cash flows and needs for liquidity. Simply look at how Busch Gardens and Grant’s Farm are being cut out, the prior in a buyout offer, the latter in a giveaway to reduce non-core operating cash flows. If they have to do this, then the odds are against a total corporate relocation.
The AB acquisition was for the brands AS WELL AS the assets, and that’s more than intellectual property rights for recipes. I don’t think they’d even be capable of dumping core assets, let alone for a Manhattan relocation. The proxy shareholders by themselves would string them up by their necks for such reckless spending.
Side note: AB is the biggest user of water in Saint Louis. One of the reasons why the water’s so pure around here is because of the stringent filtration systems demanded by the brewery to bottle the beer here.
Positive consequence: Pepsi’s bottled water brand Aquafina has its operations in Saint Louis to capitalize on this, too. When driving on 70 in North City, look for the Pepsi water tower south of the highway near Union. Your bottled water gets its start as Saint Louis tap water.
Dogtown: I have family & friends who work at AB. The consensus is that the merger is maturing reasonably well, and that the initial freak-outs are done. While there’s still more integration to go, I’ve heard there’s a lot more trust and cooperation.
1. It is home to all operations, including executive, marketing, brewing, and distribution, and you can’t just pick that up and put it in a Manhattan high rise.
2. This includes thousands of local employees who are expert at their job in a very small but highly defined industry sector, much of this human resource power being resultant from the industry cluster that Saint Louis has developed over generations of workers.
3. Think about how much square feet of company office space is utilized at the AB Brewery, including the office tower next to the brew houses as well as the marketing operations across Broadway. What would they even do with all that space?
4. After the $75/share buyout, compounded with the global economic collapse, this company is incredibly aware of their cash flows and needs for liquidity. Simply look at how Busch Gardens and Grant’s Farm are being cut out, the prior in a buyout offer, the latter in a giveaway to reduce non-core operating cash flows. If they have to do this, then the odds are against a total corporate relocation.
The AB acquisition was for the brands AS WELL AS the assets, and that’s more than intellectual property rights for recipes. I don’t think they’d even be capable of dumping core assets, let alone for a Manhattan relocation. The proxy shareholders by themselves would string them up by their necks for such reckless spending.
Conservation, eh? This sounds like AB has actually instituted more “green” practices or “reusable” technologies to better utilize water treatment. Chalk up another victory for unintended consequences.Framer wrote:Interesting tidbit:
Alderman Donna Baringer, via my neighborhood newsletter, partially blames the recent water rate increase on AB. Seems that they are the City's biggest water customer, and have recently been able to cut their usage by 50% due to conservation efforts (there was also a dramatic increase in the cost of water treatment chemicals). Thus, the City must make-up the lost revenue via the little guys.
She also notes that AB "has offered its technical resources to the City water department in streamlining costs, increasing customers, and combining chemical purchasing power".
Side note: AB is the biggest user of water in Saint Louis. One of the reasons why the water’s so pure around here is because of the stringent filtration systems demanded by the brewery to bottle the beer here.
Positive consequence: Pepsi’s bottled water brand Aquafina has its operations in Saint Louis to capitalize on this, too. When driving on 70 in North City, look for the Pepsi water tower south of the highway near Union. Your bottled water gets its start as Saint Louis tap water.
Dogtown: I have family & friends who work at AB. The consensus is that the merger is maturing reasonably well, and that the initial freak-outs are done. While there’s still more integration to go, I’ve heard there’s a lot more trust and cooperation.
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^ I appreciate your input. If you care to dig deeper with your fam & friends, please do. Just get back with me as soon as you can, thanks again!
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I work there. I think I have a pretty objective view of the company. I've been there almost 10 years, but not as long as some people who were fully ingrained in the old culture.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:Question:
Does anyone on the forum work at AB?
I am wondering if things have truly calmed down there, has INBEV completely integrated their management philosophy and is it a good philosophy?
Is the work environment really as bad as portrayed in the media?
Is it 'that bad' because the former AB was so great to work at and now it is like 'every other company'?
Is there still a fear of layoffs?
How do they pay now that INBEV is in charge? Do they give raises annually?
Is there a real belief amongst employees, that a move of corporate positions to NYC is going to occur down the road?
If you had an opportunity to work for AB, would you leave a job you really like to come to AB?
I'd appreciate any input, as I am 'exploring an opportunity'. Thanks in advance.
Here's the thing that people don't want to admit, except for in personal conversations - the old company, while everyone talks about how amazing it was, was throwing money away. Look at the share price. Stagnant for years, even though the company was holding share in a down economy. We spent money on anything and everything, and often without very good reason or strategy.
The new company - it's a different culture. It's not for everyone, but that doesn't make it evil. It's just not a match for everyone. You will find that at every company.
The MANCOM (Luiz, Dave & the other VPs)...sit at one long zig-zag cafeteria style table with just a laptop each. It's in the middle of the 9th floor and any Joe Schmo can walk right up there and talk to any of them. Quite different from before when you had to get past armed guards to see the III. They eat lunch in the corporate cafeteria. They wear jeans. They are open and friendly. To the person that asked about Luiz Edmond - he loves St. Louis. His kids are here in school. All of the expats - they are quite happy with their lifestyles here. People make Luiz or Brito or anyone else out to be monsters. These people don't know them. Luiz takes time to get to know every person that comes before him. If you saw him on the streets, you'd never think he was running ABI in the US. Everything that the III was...he is the opposite. The III promoted a culture of fear, whether people want to admit it or not. Today, we have a culture of openness, although it comes with constant challenges to be better.
The environment in the office is laid-back, but demanding. Truth is, we are doing everything with less people. But the point is not to do more work with less. It's to be more selective about where we spend our time and money. Old A-B people are having a hard time migrating into that. We are creatures that want to do everything. But everything is not always the answer.
The company believes in rewarding performance. It's a meritocracy. If you were were someone who worked here for 20 years and got more money and promotions because of who you knew or how long you'd been in the job, and not for what you actually did - you hate meritocracy. If you're someone that likes to perform - you love it. Salary is still competitive (80-100% of market rate), and yes we pay more for benefits than we did in the past, but seriously, I paid like $5 a paycheck for benefits with the old A-B. So I think I can pay a little more. Raises are not considered the main way to achieve more money. In fact, you are never guaranteed a raise, and if you get one, it is usually small. The main kicker is the bonus. If achieved (and we achieved them last year as a company), the payout is BIG. Much bigger than with the old company. However, as a company, we have to perform to get the bonus. If the company does not achieve its targets for the year, NO ONE gets a bonus...even Luiz.
The company is not going to move to NYC. Be realistic people, someone mentioned it before - the capital costs to move the HQ to one of the most expensive cities in the country, plus re-hire 90% of your workforce that isn't going to move? It's not realistic. There is no ROI on something like that.
I'm happy at A-B. I know a lot of people that are happy at the new A-B. You don't hear a lot from those people - mostly just hear from the complainers. But I have more opportunity to grow my career now than I ever had before. Before I had to sit around and wait for someone to die or retire before a promotion became available. Now I control my career.
Those are my comments.
Thanks for posting your insights.hiphiphooray wrote:The company believes in rewarding performance. It's a meritocracy. If you were were someone who worked here for 20 years and got more money and promotions because of who you knew or how long you'd been in the job, and not for what you actually did - you hate meritocracy. If you're someone that likes to perform - you love it.
I found this the most interesting statement. St. Louis business in general is known/stereotyped as an 'old boys club.' I guess that AB had a lot to do with that. In a way, this could be a seismic shift. I heard businesses in progressive cities reward meritocracy which is why the brain drain—"I'll go to Seattle and give it a go rather than fight the 'who do you know' in St. Louis."
Personally, I worked with people who had their jobs based on which school they attended and who daddy knew rather than actual skills/talent. Would love to see this quietly go away.
Any thoughts?
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^^I hear you on the stock price, as I was a shareholder for years. Didn’t grow until the takeover.
From what you are saying, the issues at AB come from those not willing to embrace change, understand that the old AB is gone and realize “the old boys club” is history. I figured that cultures would clash, but it does not sound that bad at all, considering I never knew how “good” the old AB was. That is very cool that top execs make themselves available, where the average Joe can talk to them. No more entourage needed. That is good to hear about Luiz F. Edmond. I hope he does like it here. Only bodes well for St. Louis. Sounds like that open environment is better than before, even though the change terrifies the good ol boys. I’d assume the demanding part also turns off those who did not work hard before. I think getting rewarded for working hard is great, as long as the goals are realistic and you are put in a place to succeed and not thrown to the wolves. Sounds like AB’s health insurance is still better than most. If you company has not added a deductable to your health insurance plan yet, consider yourself lucky, as it seems as if that is the new way to pass more cost on to employees. Regarding moving to NYC, most who worry, don’t worry about a full scale relocation, just a relocation of major players, top execs and upper management to this NYC office. I understand a full move would be expensive and just plain dumb. I do feel as if St. Louis could lose power and prestige, if any move of top execs occurs.
I have a few questions:
Is it true that employees cannot even put a family picture, radio or trinket on their desk?
Was the ‘takeover’ orchestrated by the Busch’s or was it really a takeover? Do you have any insights?
How many employees are there at AB now, compared to before the ‘takeover’?
How many employees were lost due to the takeover, compared to the number that would have been lost under Blue Ocean?
Once the Union contracts are up, do you anticipate major issues with negotiations?
DO you anticipate more layoffs if US sales stay stagnant or is the number right where they want to be regardless?
Does AB run it’s subsidiaries like individual companies?
Are most ‘corporate’ functions handled out of Belgium or NYC?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, appreciate the info!
From what you are saying, the issues at AB come from those not willing to embrace change, understand that the old AB is gone and realize “the old boys club” is history. I figured that cultures would clash, but it does not sound that bad at all, considering I never knew how “good” the old AB was. That is very cool that top execs make themselves available, where the average Joe can talk to them. No more entourage needed. That is good to hear about Luiz F. Edmond. I hope he does like it here. Only bodes well for St. Louis. Sounds like that open environment is better than before, even though the change terrifies the good ol boys. I’d assume the demanding part also turns off those who did not work hard before. I think getting rewarded for working hard is great, as long as the goals are realistic and you are put in a place to succeed and not thrown to the wolves. Sounds like AB’s health insurance is still better than most. If you company has not added a deductable to your health insurance plan yet, consider yourself lucky, as it seems as if that is the new way to pass more cost on to employees. Regarding moving to NYC, most who worry, don’t worry about a full scale relocation, just a relocation of major players, top execs and upper management to this NYC office. I understand a full move would be expensive and just plain dumb. I do feel as if St. Louis could lose power and prestige, if any move of top execs occurs.
I have a few questions:
Is it true that employees cannot even put a family picture, radio or trinket on their desk?
Was the ‘takeover’ orchestrated by the Busch’s or was it really a takeover? Do you have any insights?
How many employees are there at AB now, compared to before the ‘takeover’?
How many employees were lost due to the takeover, compared to the number that would have been lost under Blue Ocean?
Once the Union contracts are up, do you anticipate major issues with negotiations?
DO you anticipate more layoffs if US sales stay stagnant or is the number right where they want to be regardless?
Does AB run it’s subsidiaries like individual companies?
Are most ‘corporate’ functions handled out of Belgium or NYC?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, appreciate the info!
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I can answer this one - it was really a takeover. I'm not sure how the Busch's could have orchestrated it, even if they wanted to.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:Was the ‘takeover’ orchestrated by the Busch’s or was it really a takeover?
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Well, whatever it was, Republican congressional candidate Ed Martin wants all of us to know he led the grassroots campaign to "save A-B" since he brags about it in his commercials.The Central Scrutinizer wrote:I can answer this one - it was really a takeover. I'm not sure how the Busch's could have orchestrated it, even if they wanted to.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:Was the ‘takeover’ orchestrated by the Busch’s or was it really a takeover?
I'm not quite sure why Mr. Martin feels that distinction is in any way positive. After all, it didn't work out so well, and I'm not sure what he or others were trying to "save" A-B from in the first place since the takeover by InBev was inevitable.
