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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(636)
- People (3)
- News (138)
- Research (408)
- Events (4)
- Multimedia (1)
- Faculty Publications (267)
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- January 2025 (Revised April 2025)
- Case
Less Is More: Will Aldi's Expansion Plans Pay Off in a Crowded U.S. Grocery Market?
By: David Collis and Haisley Wert
In 2024, the discount grocery retailer Aldi announced bold U.S. expansion plans. Within five years, the German company would increase its store count by 30% to reach 3,200+ stores across the United States and approach becoming the fifth largest grocery retailer in the... View Details
Keywords: Scope; Grocery; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Business Model; Competitive Strategy; Retail Industry; United States
Collis, David, and Haisley Wert. "Less Is More: Will Aldi's Expansion Plans Pay Off in a Crowded U.S. Grocery Market?" Harvard Business School Case 725-416, January 2025. (Revised April 2025.)
- 27 Jul 2011
- Research & Ideas
Customer Loyalty Programs That Work
The customer rewards cards that clutter wallets and clog key chains of many a shopper may soon be no more, as retailers move from physical to digital (read: mobile apps) forms of loyalty program member identification. It's a smart... View Details
- February 22, 2023
- Article
How to Seed Organic Marketing in a Video-First World
By: Ayelet Israeli, Leonard A. Schlesinger and Matt Higgins
Early direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies relied on plentiful capital and low-cost digital marketing to power growth. But as this sector has matured, capital is more constrained, social media is more cluttered, and customer acquisition costs are rising. DTC companies... View Details
Keywords: Online Business; Ecommerce; E-commerce; E-Commerce Strategy; Omnichannel Retail; Omnichannel Retailing; Influencer Marketing; Consumer; Organic Growth; Video Advertising; Promotion; Celebrities; Online Advertising; Online Channel; Online Communities; Online Community; Go To Market Strategy; Platform; Media; Media Content; Digital; Digital Culture; Digital Influencers; Direct To Consumer Marketing; Direct-to-consumer; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Sales; Digital Platforms; Digital Marketing; Digital Strategy; Consumer Behavior; Internet and the Web; Advertising; Business Model; Growth Management; Marketing; Marketing Strategy; Marketing Channels; Marketing Communications; Communication Strategy; Innovation Strategy; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; United States; North America
Israeli, Ayelet, Leonard A. Schlesinger, and Matt Higgins. "How to Seed Organic Marketing in a Video-First World." Harvard Business Review (website) (February 22, 2023).
- January 2024
- Case
Sprouts Farmers Market
By: Rajiv Lal, Forest L. Reinhardt and Natalie Kindred
Sprouts Farmers Markets (Sprouts) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based chain of 400-plus natural foods stores in 23 U.S. states and $6.4 billion in sales as of 2022. In its product assortment, brand image, and store environment, Sprouts emphasizes freshness, health, innovation,... View Details
Keywords: Business Model; Growth and Development Strategy; Brands and Branding; Strategic Planning; Sales; Business Strategy; Expansion; Product Positioning; Marketing Strategy; Competition; Retail Industry; United States; Arizona
Lal, Rajiv, Forest L. Reinhardt, and Natalie Kindred. "Sprouts Farmers Market." Harvard Business School Case 524-059, January 2024.
- August 2009 (Revised September 2011)
- Case
Whole Foods: Balancing Social Mission and Growth
By: Christopher Marquis, Marya Besharov and Bobbi Thomason
In 2009, Whole Foods stands at a crossroads. Their incredible growth over the past 25 years has vaulted them into the ranks of the largest US supermarkets and they have arguably led to the widespread acceptance of natural and organic foods in the United States. Yet... View Details
Keywords: Business Model; Leadership; Growth and Development Strategy; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United States
Marquis, Christopher, Marya Besharov, and Bobbi Thomason. "Whole Foods: Balancing Social Mission and Growth." Harvard Business School Case 410-023, August 2009. (Revised September 2011.)
- June 2005
- Tutorial
Prematriculation Financial Accounting Tutorial/Module
By: David F. Hawkins, Paul M. Healy and Ratna G. Sarkar
The Financial Accounting course is an introduction to the fundamental concepts of financial accounting in a management context. The course describes the business activities for Global Grocer, a small retail franchise specializing in gourmet foods and specialty kitchen... View Details
- July 2008 (Revised March 2010)
- Case
McDonald's Plan to Win (A)
By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Karla Ingrid Gravis and Annette Kristine Rodriguez
As of 2007, McDonald's had made significant progress on its “Plan to Win,” and the company was rewarded by reaching an all-time high share price. However, McDonald's competitors had expanded beyond the typical fast food giants, such as Wendy's and Burger King, as... View Details
- December 2000
- Case
Friona Industries, L.P.
By: Ray A. Goldberg, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis
As the food industry becomes more sophisticated, and as genomics and other factors provide for quality control from the producers to the consumers in the food chain, the beef industry has been one of the last commodity systems to organize the vertical systems to... View Details
Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Customer Value and Value Chain; Food; Management Systems; Supply and Industry; Performance Consistency; Quality; Partners and Partnerships; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry
Goldberg, Ray A., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Cate Reavis. "Friona Industries, L.P." Harvard Business School Case 901-009, December 2000.
- November 2024
- Article
Price Discounts and Cheapflation During the Post-Pandemic Inflation Surge
By: Alberto Cavallo and Oleksiy Kryvtsov
We study how within-store price variation changes with inflation, and whether households exploit it to attenuate the inflation burden. We use micro price data for food products sold by 91 large multi-channel retailers in ten countries between 2018 and 2024. Measuring... View Details
Keywords: Macroeconomics; Inflation and Deflation; Price; Consumer Behavior; Personal Finance; Product Positioning
Cavallo, Alberto, and Oleksiy Kryvtsov. "Price Discounts and Cheapflation During the Post-Pandemic Inflation Surge." Journal of Monetary Economics 148 (November 2024).
- November 2010 (Revised February 2011)
- Case
BonneSante S.A.
By: David F. Hawkins
IASB and FASB propose new lease accounting rules and the owner of a French chain of fast food outlets is concerned about the impact on his company's balance sheets. View Details
Keywords: Financial Reporting; International Accounting; Policy; Standards; Leasing; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; France
Hawkins, David F. "BonneSante S.A." Harvard Business School Case 111-063, November 2010. (Revised February 2011.)
- November 2024
- Case
Dr. Bombay Ice Cream
By: William R. Kerr, Alexis Brownell and Michael Liu
This case examines the creation, launch, and rapid growth of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream, a joint venture between Happi Co., a consumer packaged goods incubator, and entertainment mogul Snoop Dogg, with his son, Cordell Broadus. The brand was inspired by a Bored Ape Yacht... View Details
Keywords: Joint Ventures; Growth Management; Brands and Branding; Product Launch; Product Positioning; Market Entry and Exit; Distribution Channels; Disruptive Innovation; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United States
Kerr, William R., Alexis Brownell, and Michael Liu. "Dr. Bombay Ice Cream." Harvard Business School Case 825-090, November 2024.
- 24 Feb 2014
- Research & Ideas
Busting Six Myths About Customer Loyalty Programs
There are three ways to differentiate in retailing: location, location, and location. The problem is that as markets mature, location becomes less potent as a competitive advantage because the consumer has a growing abundance of convenient choices. That's one reason... View Details
- March 2011
- Case
United Cereal: Lora Brill's Eurobrand Challenge
By: Christopher A. Bartlett and Carole Carlson
The case, set within the European organization of a giant multinational breakfast foods company, describes a launch decision for a new cereal product. As the case evolves, the decision has major strategic and organizational implications for Lora Brill, European VP. The... View Details
Keywords: Subsidiaries; Market Entry; Multinational Corporations; Strategy; Business Subsidiaries; Managerial Roles; Multinational Firms and Management; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Product Launch; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Europe
Bartlett, Christopher A., and Carole Carlson. "United Cereal: Lora Brill's Eurobrand Challenge." Harvard Business School Brief Case 114-269, March 2011.
- September 1983 (Revised December 1985)
- Case
Dunkin' Donuts (C): Growth Strategy
By: Hirotaka Takeuchi
Dunkin' Donuts franchises and operates retail donut shops for take-home and in-shop consumption. Looks at three growth alternatives: 1) More shops (owned or franchised); 2) A broader product line; and 3) More advertising. Raises important issues related to franchise... View Details
Keywords: Advertising; Growth and Development Strategy; Growth Management; Brands and Branding; Logistics; Franchise Ownership; Relationships; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry
Takeuchi, Hirotaka. "Dunkin' Donuts (C): Growth Strategy." Harvard Business School Case 584-041, September 1983. (Revised December 1985.)
- 2013
- Working Paper
The Operational Consequences of Private Equity Buyouts: Evidence from the Restaurant Industry
By: Albert W. Sheen and Shai Bernstein
What, if anything, do private equity firms do with businesses they acquire? We find evidence of significant operational changes in 101 restaurant chain buyouts between 2002 and 2012. Analysis of health inspections conducted for over 50,000 stores in Florida shows that... View Details
Keywords: Safety; Quality; Private Equity; Food; Management Practices and Processes; Leveraged Buyouts; Performance Efficiency; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Florida
Sheen, Albert W., and Shai Bernstein. "The Operational Consequences of Private Equity Buyouts: Evidence from the Restaurant Industry." Working Paper, June 2013.
- 19 Apr 2011
- First Look
First Look: April 19
Becker, Zoran Ivkovic, and Scott Weisbenner Publication:Journal of Finance 66, no. 2 (April 2011) Abstract : We exploit demographic variation to identify the effect of dividend demand on corporate payout policy. Retail investors tend to... View Details
Keywords: Sean Silverthorne
- June 1990 (Revised August 1994)
- Case
Sorrell Ridge: Slotting Allowances
By: John A. Quelch
Management is attempting to penetrate the California retail grocery market with the company's line of all-fruit preserves. Substantial up-front fees (slotting allowances) have been requested by the chains. Management must decide how to respond. View Details
Keywords: Food; Distribution; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; California
Quelch, John A. "Sorrell Ridge: Slotting Allowances." Harvard Business School Case 591-011, June 1990. (Revised August 1994.)
- May 1994 (Revised March 2008)
- Case
Barilla SpA (A)
Barilla SpA, an Italian manufacturer that sells to its retailers largely through third-party distributors, experienced widely fluctuating demand patterns from its distributors during the late 1980s. This case describes a proposal to address the problem by implementing... View Details
Keywords: Order Taking and Fulfillment; Logistics; Supply Chain; Technology; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Italy
Hammond, Janice H. "Barilla SpA (A)." Harvard Business School Case 694-046, May 1994. (Revised March 2008.)
- November 2022 (Revised October 2024)
- Case
'A Marshall Plan for Africa': James Mwangi and Equity Group Holdings
By: Caroline M. Elkins, Debora L. Spar, Zeke Gillman and Julia M. Comeau
Financial Inclusion. Dignity. Trust. These were the core principles driving James Mwangi’s transformation of Equity Building Society, insolvent in 1991, into what is, today, Equity Group Holdings, East and Central Africa’s largest retail banking institution. Raised in... View Details
Keywords: Income Inequality; Micro Finance; Microcredit; Microfinance; Banks and Banking; Equality and Inequality; Mission and Purpose; Business Model; Social Entrepreneurship; Banking Industry; Financial Services Industry; Africa; Kenya
Elkins, Caroline M., Debora L. Spar, Zeke Gillman, and Julia M. Comeau. "'A Marshall Plan for Africa': James Mwangi and Equity Group Holdings." Harvard Business School Case 323-048, November 2022. (Revised October 2024.)
- 25 Oct 2010
- HBS Case
Tesco’s Stumble into the US Market
eliminated discount coupons, and decorated in a spare style more suited to a hospital than a food retailer. Five years later, Fresh & Easy has not made a dime, and analysts are wondering whether the company should pack up and go home,... View Details