Chapter 179: Headquarters
At the same time that everyone in Mbeya was busy offering suggestions on how to attack the Yeke Kingdom, a location for the Heixingen Food Enterprises office building in Vienna had also been settled.
Ernst's chosen general manager for the Vienna Food Company, Müller, was introducing the company's headquarters building to Ernst.
Since the new company name once again uses a place name plus its function, it's called the Vienna Food Company. The headquarters mainly handles the overall coordination of all food-related affairs under the Heixingen Consortium, which is why it's located in the central district of Vienna, where transportation and information are convenient.
"Your Highness, this is the new office location we've selected for the company. Its original owner was Count Antonio of Salzburg, who's mostly active in Salzburg and rarely comes to Vienna. This property had remained unused for some time, so he intended to sell it. After several rounds of negotiation, I managed to acquire this building for the company within our budget," Müller explained to Ernst.
"Hmm, the surroundings are quite nice, and the transportation here is very convenient. You've picked a good location. Working here should make handling our business much easier," Ernst remarked.
"You're right, Your Highness. That's precisely what I had in mind. This spot is just a bit off from Vienna's city center, close to a nearby wealthy district. The surroundings are elegant and away from the noise of downtown. The land here is quite expensive, so once we carry out some specialized renovations, it will absolutely make our clients feel welcome. Since it's the company's headquarters, we need to leave a good impression on clients and also make it easier for us to do our jobs," Müller said.
"You've been with us for a while. You did very well in the bank business back then. Now I'm transferring you from the financial sector to food production—do you think it'll be hard to adjust?" Ernst asked.
Müller quickly replied, "Your Highness, to serve the consortium means constantly learning in order to keep moving forward, rather than worrying about which sector we're in. After receiving your instructions, I immediately began researching the food industry. I would never dare to betray your trust."
Ernst nodded. "Very good. Still, I'd like to know if you have any unique insights into the food industry and any plans for the company's future development."
"After studying a lot of material and combining it with my previous work experience and general knowledge, I have some humble opinions about the food industry. Right now, I think if the company follows the traditional market model, it's bound to suffer disastrous consequences. We're in an era of transformation, where machinery is having an increasingly significant impact on the food industry.
Traditional food sectors in countries like Austro-Hungary and Tsarist Russia, historically strong in agriculture, still rely on the most rudimentary products and production methods. Yet from my research into agriculture and the food industry in various countries over the past few years, I've noticed that Northern Germany, France, and others are rapidly outpacing Austro-Hungary and Tsarist Russia in terms of grain processing efficiency and resource utilization.
Machinery is the absolute main driver of this gap. At present, Austro-Hungary lags behind Germany, France, and Britain in terms of horsepower and machinery. Therefore, we should focus on incorporating new equipment and new technologies in the food sector. This disadvantage in Austro-Hungary actually benefits us. Once our industrial zone along the Danube is fully constructed, it will fill the gaps Austro-Hungary has in these areas," Müller said confidently.
"It's good that you've realized this. Indeed, industrial advancement has a major impact on agriculture, and more use of machinery can lower our production costs. But in the end, the food industry hinges on customer satisfaction. A low price doesn't necessarily mean customers will buy—it's a comprehensive matter involving taste, target demographics, product quality, marketing, and so on. Even if the price is low, the product could still fail to sell without proper promotion. That's why product packaging must be well done, and we need to run more quality advertisements. At the same time, you should focus on expanding our range of products. Research more about preserving foods and various preparation methods so that customers have more options," Ernst suggested to Müller.
"Understood, Your Highness. I will definitely keep these points in mind in our daily work," Müller promised.
"What I just said is merely a set of ideas. Now I want to emphasize something crucial—make sure you remember this," Ernst said, his expression turning serious. "Food safety is paramount. You must strictly control hygiene. For certain preserved or processed foods, don't overdo the additives. There must be a limit. Have some experts determine how much is appropriate, and then establish strict uniform standards. Also, be sure to manage public opinion. Whenever consumers cause a stir, handle it privately to prevent negative issues from circulating publicly. If it's a minor problem, compensate them more and correct it immediately. If it's a major problem, don't try to cover it up on your own; report it to me right away. Otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself…"
At these words, Müller shuddered. He immediately said, "Yes, Your Highness. Rest assured, I, Müller, swear before God to follow your instructions in my work and will never take them lightly."
Satisfied with Müller's attitude, Ernst continued in a kinder tone, "There's no need to be overly worried. Making mistakes is not the real issue—covering them up afterward is what you need to worry about. When it comes to work, as long as you're careful, you generally won't make serious mistakes. Especially given your capabilities, we wouldn't hand such a large company over to you if we didn't believe in you. Just double-check your work often. I'll assign a secretary to assist you. They can offer reminders, which should help a great deal."
"Thank you for Your Highness's great trust. I will do my best to serve the company," Müller said.
"Excellent. In short, keep in mind keywords like technology, talent, food safety, and advertising, and use these to guide the company's development," Ernst said. "Speaking of which, how is the progress of the industrial park construction?"
Upon hearing this question, Müller answered, "Construction on the industrial park is underway. Right now, we're building roads to connect with the docks and train station. The land in that area has also been leveled, and the factories are under construction. Currently, two are in progress: a flour mill and a sugar refinery. We have plans for several more; the blueprints are ready. We expect the entire industrial park to be finished by June this year, and once the machinery is installed, production can begin."
"Very good. At that time, make sure you focus on recruitment and provide plenty of safety training for new employees to maintain a disciplined workforce. After all, we still need people to operate the machines, and the food industry places great importance on hygiene. Many people aren't attentive to hygiene at all, but our Vienna Food Company absolutely must not follow that example. A big company has to follow big-company rules. We must avoid shooting ourselves in the foot," Ernst said.
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