SABMiller Reviews

Pros

Fun product, always challenges, great people
The company does it's best to do the right thing all the time.
Lots of drive for continual improvement. If you can win in SAB, you can win anywhere.

Cons

Most probably better pay for less work is out there ....
Too much focus on BEE vs. right person for the right job.

Advice to Senior Management

Start moving senior managers between different hubs in the world. We will learn more quickly from each other.

Pros

This is a world class company with operations in over 60 odd countries on every single continent. It offers great opportunities for advancement.

Cons

Sometimes being in a big company like SABMiller, you could get lost in the system, but the company does focus on its people.

Advice to Senior Management

continue paying attention to you people. SABMiller is an institution and should continue to develop it people as its being doing for so long

Pros

One of the mayor players in the beer industry, high performance company with a growing culture of sharing knowledge and best practices withing its operations. A passionate company for their brands and products, goal driven and people oriented.

Cons

Limited opportunities of growth, low life work balance, despite being a fun place to work it absorbs much of your time.

Pros

Great People
Better than average employee benefits package
Monthly beer allowance
Free parking

Cons

Peter principle at work - very poor middle management
Very little loyalty to employees (redunencies with no attention to merit or time with company)

Advice to Senior Management

Do a much better job of hiring your upper middle to lower senior management - screen for the profound incompetancy that permiates every corner of your organisation

Pros

Great beer, great lifestyle and fun people to work with. I really enjoy the challenges and the rewards that are associated.

Cons

It is a challenge to keep an open mind to what is happening careerwise outside of the company as they are very inclined to do what they can to keep good staff (also a good thing). The moral issue of working for an alcohol company can be considered a downside.

Advice to Senior Management

The management of South African Breweries is fantastic. they are well known for a well thought out strategy and great management especially in the highest ranks.

Pros

SABMiller is a performance driven organisation where employees are expected to be driven to succeed and to go the extra mile to achieve goals and targets. Goals are always set with the intention to stretch the individual to facilitate growth. SABMiller strives to be the best in their field and as such support innovation and cutting edge technologies.

Cons

Depending in which area of the organisation you are working, there can be very limited work-life-balance with long hours the norm.

Advice to Senior Management

Ensure an open and decisive leadership style across all areas of the business; monitor overtime and overutilisation of resources to ensure a healthy work/life balance across the business

Pros

Big, Dynamic, Inclusive, Challenging and Fair

Cons

Low International exposure, Bureaucratic Marketing capabilities, Low work life balance

Advice to Senior Management

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Pros

Strong industry leader globally and regionally; available funds for projects - it's a cash generative business; proactive in approach to the developing solutions

Cons

It is a boys club (need to be part of the in crowd); not first world operating countries; low remuneration

Advice to Senior Management

Utilise global talent pool

Pros

Other than the free beer - A lot of good people work in the field making the numbers everyday. They know how to market their product to their audience.

Cons

Planning, planning, planning - This took several months and they kept changing the process every year! Way too many consultants selling them on new ways to plan!

Advice to Senior Management

Selling beer is local - trust your local marketing and sales teams to meet the goals that you give to them!

Pros

SABMiller was a very good place to work where people are fairly rewarded and you are given a clear career path.

Cons

The work life balance was heavily focssed on work with limited family time

Advice to Senior Management

SAB should focus on getting the work life balance right