Anheuser-Busch Reviews

Pros

Great group of people to work with. Everyone really loves Budweiser and it shows at all the meetings and events. Plenty of opportunities to go out with co-workers and have a good time all paid for by Anheuser-Busch. A good all around place to be.

Cons

The hours can be extremely long around holidays and when most people in other industries have time off, you are required to work more. Ever since InBev bought the company things have become much more streamlined and the budget for clients has been reduced drastically.

Advice to Senior Management

There were several young sales reps with the company when I was there that I felt would have done a great job in management roles, but there is a logjam and many people end up leaving the company for other opportunities because it takes so long to get promoted.

Pros

Top customer service, atmosphere was like family. Further education was encouraged and allowed while at work. Many perks such as: free luncheons, merchandise give aways, rewards for good suggestions that saved company money or improved on safety and freedom to get jobs done without breathing down our backs.

Cons

Some people were allowed to be slackers. Raises were up to individual dept. managers, so of course pets received top dollar while others were possibly short changed. Office workers had to wear business casual but were sometimes sent to warehouse to work in heels and nice clothing. Was told to keep extra outfit to change into at desk.

Advice to Senior Management

It is no longer Anheuser. We were told that they were approached about an offer for a buy out and that they had no intention of selling that it was absolutely nothing to worry about...... a year later they sold us out. They just didn't want their work force quitting on them. They had it planned from the beginning. It was just a matter of it all falling into place.

Pros

Opportunity for advancement
Talent level of organization
Strength of portfolio
Bold future of organization in terms of aquiring new brands

Cons

Disconnect of global strategies as they relate to US market
Efforts to reduce costs by reducing benefits and tactical spending

Advice to Senior Management

Need to get swagger back and stop taking a beating by retailers, competition and trade publications

Pros

The company still provides regular paychecks and makes a solid product. If you are one of the top 250, your bonus money is great.

Cons

The company is no longer focused on quality, they are no longet maintaining the plants, and the focus is no longer on the companys future.

Pros

This once was a company that showed it cared about its employees. Benefits package and salary under the old AB was at the 90th percentile of the Fortune 100 Companies. Now, it’s been reduced to the 50th percentile of the Fortune 500 Companies. There once was money to send employees for training. And there used to be recognitions initiatives that were more significant than a 10 sec advertisement on AB-TV. There was once an incentive to stay with the company regarding growth and promotion opportunities. I used to say I’m going to retire from AB. The only positive now it that it is not widely known that this company is going the way of Schlitz Malt Liquor, and it still looks good on my resume.

Cons

They are still wasting a fortune doing things poorly, they have the worst ERP implementation in town and pay horribly, and therefore they can only get sub-par talent today. The ideology of reducing scheduled preventative maintenance and overhauls and running equipment until it fails is very short sited. This would be great if everything failed at once, but a production line doesn’t work that way. Things fail at different rates. This is why the production efficiencies have dropped so much. Not to mention the current massive exodus of tenured staff has left very little resource to those who stay. Since the buyout, I am TWICE forced to do my job, and my boss’s job without an increase in pay or title. They first offered an increase in 3 years of service and age to encourage retirements of employees that had elevated salaries. Now, they are at again, offering another increase in 5 years of service and age to reduce head count and salary cost regardless if the knowledge and experience is an asset. This last big move has left no experience in the Saint Louis corporate offices to assist the resident breweries. You are left to meet the frequencies that are in place without the manpower or the personal to help with solutions. Downsizing, consolidation, and cost cutting is the name of the game at the NEW AB. Who cares if the early liquidation of over 400 years of valued experience has falsely inflated profits for the shareholders. But you can only cut so much before the product is affected. Like I said Anheuser Busch is going the way of Schlitz Malt Liquor. Sadly, the American born and brewed company has died. It’s only a matter of time before it’s just another cheap "made in Taiwan" knockoff.

Pros

Worked with some of the smartest people in the industry

Cons

A divided organizational culture of employees and contractors

Advice to Senior Management

assmilate them more

Pros

At the time I worked there (Pre-Brito)
Excellent benefits.
Pride in Company.
Catered to employees very well at corporate offices.

Cons

Management did not have a clue; they had less education than the people they managed
My department made up rules that HR weren't aware of

Advice to Senior Management

Change the way you do busines before it is to late. Most of the people left the company and it won't be too long before all the talent is left

Pros

Gas Mileage
Laid back managers
Off when you get the job done

Cons

Low pay
Very little communication
Favoritism
Work weekends at 5am

Advice to Senior Management

Give us some idea of how we are doing

Pros

Global company, lots of resources available to learn from

Cons

Quick transitions between departments don't give enough time to learn

Pros

Worlds #1 beverage / beer company.

Cons

To much work and the system is controled by a small group who can drive profits but not company sustainability.

Advice to Senior Management

Spend some money on the small things and try not to look so cheap to your employees