THE WORLD OF HEINEKEN
"I had the most fun during my time working in the brewery,"
was Alfred Heineken's recollection of his early years with the
company. With his openness, his interest in other people's views
and his dislike of fads, he was well liked by the many people he
met on the shopfloor. Alfred Heineken also understood that, if
you're aiming for good quality, you need good people.
And to attract and retain good people, you have to offer good
employment terms.
In his approach, Alfred Heineken continued a family tradition.
His father was known as the 'red brewer' - if you went to work
for Heineken, you were sure of above-average pay for the job.
Not that this related directly to the application of'red' (i.e. left-
wing) principles: in fact, the philosophy and policy stemmed more
from the value which the Heineken family places on the staff,
their quality and their commitment.
Alfred Heineken was often to be seen on the shopfloor. He was
someone you could chat to about your work, and during his visits
he always showed a keen interest in that side of the business. He
liked to share his passion for quality with the staff. He wanted the
Heineken brand and Heineken beer to achieve the highest
standards, which is why he invested in new technology, new
machines and the staff training which that requires. It is not
without reason that Heineken employees are so highly regarded.
