The personnel of the distribution depot in
Shanghai city centre. Extreme right, com
mercial manager Wang Tianbao.
The brew house is in reasonably good
condition.
via the state-owned selling organisa
tion to the countless little shops. At the
moment Mila holds a share of almost
sixty per cent of the on-premise trade
in Shanghai.
Uphill hcitlh;
The Mila hrewery is not a simple
place for foreigners to work in. Rules,
working methods and conditions that
are taken for granted in the West do
not apply in Shanghai. It's therefore
not surprising that people like Bert
Slootweg, brewery manager Chris
Peterse and engineering manager
Klaas van der Brug sometimes feel
they are fighting an uphill battle.
And yet Bert Slootweg remains
optimistic. 'I have faith in this project.
If I look at what's been achieved over
the past two and a half years - and
particularly in the past year - then I'm
optimistic. But fast changes are not
possible in China. Gradual change is
the typical feature of China's develop
ment.
I have the impression that a freer
market will gradually emerge for the
products which are not classed as
everyday necessities of life. That
means that at a certain time we as a
brewery will be allowed to apply a
freer pricing policy. (All prices are
currently fixed by government author
ities, ed.). The brewery and also our
sales organisation will have to pre
pare themselves for that new situation
by recruiting good people and by set
ting up good training facilities and
systems. It is only by offering better
quality than the competitors that we
can prove ourselves here.'
In clear contrast: the old-fashioned,
heavyweight machines made in China and,,
imported equipment like this wort cooler.
THE XV O l< I, I) O F H E I N E K E N
