Publications

December 1992
Case

Ahold and AMS: The 1993 Restructuring of AMS and the 1992 AMS Coca-Cola Euro-Promotion

By: Ray A. Goldberg

Keywords: Restructuring; Advertising Campaigns; Food and Beverage Industry; Europe

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October 2023 (Revised January 2024)
Case

McDonald's Board of Directors (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Will Hurwitz

In October 2019, the McDonald’s Corporation board of directors, chaired by Enrique Hernandez, Jr., gathered to learn the results of their outside counsel’s investigation into the conduct of the CEO. On the surface, the iconic fast-food chain was thriving as growing... View Details

10 Feb 2022
Research & Ideas

Why Are Prices So High Right Now—and Will They Ever Return to Normal?

including food and beverages, health products, household items, electronics, and personal products like shampoo. As the researchers looked closely at what View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

May 2020 (Revised March 2022)
Case

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and the Global Economy (A)

By: Alberto Cavallo and Christian Godwin

In April 2020, the world struggled to contain the exponential escalation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Dozens of countries had imposed restrictions on travel, work, and social gatherings. A large share of the global population was under lockdowns and... View Details

August 2013
Teaching Plan

Keurig and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Aldo Sesia

Keywords: Negotiation; Food and Beverage Industry

30 Oct 2020
News

The Pandemic Is Costing Americans More Money Than Official Numbers Suggest

December 2004 (Revised April 2006)
Case

Nestle and Alcon--The Value of a Listing

By: Mihir A. Desai, Vincent Dessain and Anders Sjoman

In response to a perceived undervaluation by the capital markets, Nestle is considering divesting a part of its ophthalmology subsidiary, Alcon, and must decide on a listing location. In the process, students are challenged to wrestle with the valuation of a... View Details

Keywords: Business Conglomerates; International Finance; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Markets; Taxation; Business Subsidiaries; Valuation; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Europe; United States

December 2005 (Revised April 2011)
Case

C.W. Post

By: Nitin Nohria, Anthony Mayo and Mark Benson

In 1906, C.W. Post had to move his latest breakfast product--corn flakes--from store shelves into cereal bowls nationwide. Post genuinely believed his corn flakes and other breakfast foods would make people well. Through sampling and other innovative sales and... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Innovation and Invention; Brands and Branding; Product Marketing; Sales; Food and Beverage Industry; Battle Creek

01 Mar 2018
News

March 2018 Alumni and Faculty Books

book. With an easy-to-follow four-week program, this low cholesterol cookbook will help you lower cholesterol naturally, with food and exercise. This low cholesterol cookbook delivers comprehensive recipes... View Details

July 2009
Case

Arcor: Global Strategy and Local Turbulence (Abridged)

Argentine confectionery manufacturer, Arcor Group, seeks to implement an international strategy but in 2003, while recovering from the Argentine financial crisis, globalization plans are thwarted. Already Latin America's leading candy producer and an exporter to over... View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Currency; Global Strategy; Expansion; Balance and Stability; Food and Beverage Industry; Latin America; Argentina

September 2018 (Revised April 2019)
Case

AMC Entertainment: Creating a Spectacular Moviegoing Experience (A)

By: Henry McGee and Aldo Sesia

In 2018, the Hollywood film industry is facing tough headwinds. Fewer and fewer Americans are going to movie theaters, opting instead to watch movies on demand in the comfort of their own homes or on portable devices. Adam Aron, the head of the world’s largest movie... View Details

Keywords: Exhibitors; Movies; Film Entertainment; Disruptive Innovation; Consumer Behavior; Competitive Strategy; Expansion; Global Range; Business Model; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

31 May 2017
Sharpening Your Skills

10 Harvard Business School Research Stories That Will Make Your Mouth Water

Food used to be just sustenance, but now it's news. The president of the United States falls for McDonald's and KFC. In Portland, resentment is growing over white street vendors who sell ethnic foods. Ikea... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Food & Beverage

21 Aug 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, August 21, 2018

products. Prior to the acquisition, Whole Foods began rolling out a new order-to-shelf (OTS) inventory management system that many observers believed had led to shortages. For years, store team leaders at... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

15 Mar 2018
Working Paper Summaries

Targeted Price Controls on Supermarket Products

Keywords: by Alberto Cavallo and Diego Aparicio; Food & Beverage

20 Sep 2021
Blog Post

Student Spotlight: Summer Internships in Business and Environment

joining HBS. Cal Brooks (MBA 2022, Section A), Summer Internship: Commercialization Strategy Intern at Malta Malta is building a new type of electro-thermal energy storage system that can collect and store... View Details

May 2019
Case

Whiskey and Cheddar: Ingredient Branding at the Caesan Cheese Cooperative (Brief Case)

By: John A. Quelch and Katherine B. Hartman

The Caesan Cheese Cooperative is considering introducing a new high-quality, high-margin artisan whiskey cheddar cheese. Deidra Kelly, vice president of marketing and product development at Caesan, must recommend to the Board of Directors whether to launch the product... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Product Development; Management; Product Marketing; Product Positioning; Marketing Strategy; Partners and Partnerships; Food and Beverage Industry

19 Jun 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, June 19, 2018

million well-off shoppers and 463 grocery stores in key U.S. markets. Whole Foods could absorb Amazon’s technology and process expertise to... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

Web

Adding a Social Dimension to Strategy - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

specialized nutritional requirements (gluten allergies, vegan, etc.) Serve educated customers who are passionate about food and a healthy lifestyle Well-lit, inviting supermarket View Details

November 2005 (Revised September 2007)
Case

Beijing Hualian

By: David E. Bell and Mary L. Shelman

China's fifth largest domestic retailer faced intensifying competition from Wal-Mart and Carrefour with the opening of China's fast-growing retail market in January 2005. In response, Beijing Hualian developed a new "Family Store" format targeted at the nation's... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Product Positioning; Consumer Behavior; Competition; Corporate Strategy; Retail Industry; China