Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(February  8-14, 2009)
 Click Here for the
Hello MMBA Members and Friends,
 
We are beginning a weekly e-mail newsletter that will replace the NABCA updates.  This newsletter will include news from our industry, local trends and maybe even some fun facts. Enjoy and share with all you might think are interested.
As I see it... 
 
 
Now is that time of year we can focus on looking at our inventory and moving out the product that sits longer than others. Most computer systems have a way of telling you what's old. But an old fashion way is the red dot system, buy a package of small red dots, March 1st put a dot on every facing and see what dots are still there April 1st.
Many people have different ways of closing out items such as:
 
 
 
Close out bins with discounts.
 
Buy one get one.
 
Dutch sale ( % discount increases every week)
 
.99 cent sale
 
Whatever works for you. Just remember, you have already lost the money if the product just sits on the shelf.
 
Always ask your sales rep for help to move these products. The best time to ask is when they are presenting you with a new item.
 
Tom Agnes, MMBA Director
Anheuser-Busch Extends
Shelf-Life for Smaller Brands

 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  
For years, Anheuser-Busch has been unbending when it comes to its beer's shelf life. If A-B beer went 110 days without selling, A-B crews would sweep into bars and restaurants and hand the retailer a check for the value of the beer. They would grab the beer, break the bottles and pour the liquid out. No exceptions.
 
Now, the brewer says it has realized that the 110-day limit might not be necessary. Why? The company says it has improved its brewing processes and packaging - using new fillers and bottle crowns, for example - that reduce the amount of oxygen in its beers.
 
The company is allowing its new and niche beers to stay on the market longer - as long as 180 days in some instances. It is also dropping its "born on" date from the small brands, although the beers will still have a code showing the packaging date.
 
Big brands such as Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Select, Busch and Natural Light will keep the traditional "born on" date and the 110-day selling limit.
 
Anheuser-Busch, now a division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, insists that the changes occurred last summer and fall, before InBev took over the St. Louis brewer.
 
By letting some small brews stay on the shelves beyond 110 days, Anheuser-Busch is confirming what many craft brewers have thought for some time - A-B was throwing out plenty of good beer that could have stayed on the market for weeks longer. A-B did not say which beers will be allowed to stay on the shelves for 180 days. It's not clear how much money A-B will save by leaving beer on the market longer.
 
"In recent years our brewery team has made significant improvements in both the brewing and packaging processes that have resulted in our beers leaving the brewery at the peak of freshness, and then maintaining that freshness much longer than in the past," Peter Kraemer, vice president of supply at Anheuser-Busch Cos., told Lager Heads in a statement.
 
"These changes allow us to strictly adhere to our long-held high-quality standards and maintain the superior taste of our beer, which is always our top priority," he said.

 
The Simple Truths of Service
 
Ken Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager and his partner Barbara Glanz have created a short clip about the importance of providing simple customer service & having a great attitude.   
 
Take a look at this story of Johnny, the grocery store bagger.
 
It will remind you of how we make an impact in what we do.

Click Here to Learn About Johnny
Town Hall Meetings
 
 
In the coming weeks, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate, will be hold hearings across our state to hear from citizens on Governor Pawlenty's budget recommendations. Click the link below for dates and locations.
 
Click Here for Town Hall Information
 
Your job as a manager is to compensate for the things lacking in your employee or work setting. 
 
Your effectiveness as a manager will depend on how well you can identify those factors that are lacking, and your ability to fill the gap.
 
Future Dates to Remember!!
MMBA Boot Camp
Feb 24th & 25th 2009
 
2009 MMBA Annual Conference
May 17th - 19th
Wine Dinner May 16th
 
MMBA Regional Meetings
 Fall of 2009
 
 
Ask A Director
 
Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163
 
Dan Bahr
Bemidji
218-751-8868
 
Brian Hachey
Stacy
651-462-2727
 
Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578
 
Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020
 
Joyce Zachmann
Spring Lake Park
763-780-8247
 
Virgene Shellenbarger
Hutchinson
 320-587-2762
 
Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747
 
Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349
 
Molly Meyer
Fairmont
 507-238-2269
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
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Leadership Styles
 
What do the following have in common: 
 
Benjamin Sisco
 
Jonathan Archer
 
Catherine Janeway
 
James T. Kirk
 
Jean-Luc Picard
 
Of course, they were all Star Trek captains.
 
But, each of them brought different styles to their commands, and each of their styles provide examples and lessons for managers in today's world.
  
Click below to see the advantages and disadvantages of each style:
 

  Star Trek Logo