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BRANNIGAN	
  FOODS	
  
STRATEGIC	
  MARKETING	
  
PLANNING	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  

PROBLEM	
  STATEMENT	
  
	
  
Bert	
   Clark,	
   vice-­‐president	
   and	
   general	
   manager	
   of	
   Brannigan	
   Food	
   Soup’s	
   Division,	
   has	
  
to	
  decide	
  which	
  of	
  the	
  four	
  alternative	
  plans	
  his	
  team	
  members	
  have	
  proposed	
  should	
  
be	
   implemented	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   reverse	
   the	
   industry’s	
   steady	
   decline	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   the	
  
division’s	
  sales,	
  market	
  share,	
  and	
  profitability	
  decrease	
  for	
  the	
  last	
  three	
  years.	
  He	
  has	
  
to	
  move	
  the	
  division’s	
  growth	
  back	
  to	
  a	
  3-­‐4%	
  at	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  fiscal	
  year.	
  
	
  

ANALYSIS	
  OF	
  THE	
  SITUATION	
  

	
  
Company:	
  Brannigan	
  is	
  a	
  company	
  that	
  has	
  been	
  operating	
  for	
  over	
  100	
  years.	
  It	
  has	
  a	
  
Soup	
   Division	
   which	
   has	
   experienced	
   a	
   decrease	
   in	
   its	
   profitability	
   and	
   needs	
   to	
   create	
  
a	
  new	
  strategy	
  to	
  stop	
  the	
  declining	
  sales	
  and	
  market	
  share	
  it	
  has	
  been	
  experiencing.	
  It	
  
is	
   important	
   to	
   highlight	
   that	
   the	
   soup	
   division	
   is	
   the	
   cash	
   cow	
   (according	
   to	
   the	
  
Boston	
   Consulting	
   Group	
   product	
   matrix)	
   of	
   Brannigan	
   Foods,	
   reaching	
   up	
   to	
   40%	
   of	
  
the	
  company’s	
  total	
  sales.	
  
	
  
The	
   most	
   profitable	
   product	
   category	
   this	
   division	
   has	
   is	
   the	
   Ready	
   to	
   Eat	
   Soups	
   (RTE),	
  
which	
  accounts	
  for	
  a	
  total	
  of	
  71%	
  of	
  the	
  total	
  revenues,	
  ($210MM	
  in	
  total).	
  The	
  Soup	
  
Division	
   has	
   other	
   product	
   and	
   brand	
   segments	
   such	
   as:	
   Dry	
   Soups,	
   Healthier	
   Soups	
  
and	
  the	
  Fast	
  &	
  Simple	
  Meals.	
  	
  
	
  
Five	
  years	
  ago,	
  a	
  soup	
  company	
  named	
  Anabelle	
  was	
  acquired	
  to	
  broaden	
  the	
  range	
  of	
  
products	
  offered	
  by	
  introducing	
  the	
  Fast	
  Meal	
  category,	
  and	
  the	
  strategy	
  that	
  has	
  been	
  
followed	
  during	
  the	
  past	
  few	
  years	
  has	
  been	
  to	
  strongly	
  invest	
  in	
  Dry	
  Soups,	
  Healthier	
  
Soups	
  and	
  the	
  mentioned	
  Fast	
  Meals.	
  
	
  
Regarding	
   brand	
   awareness	
   and	
   value	
   perceived	
   by	
   customers,	
   Brannigan	
   is	
   behind	
  
competitors	
  in	
  the	
  following	
  aspects:	
  
• Health	
  trends	
  
• Diet	
  claims	
  
• Convenience	
  offerings	
  
• Flavors	
  –	
  specially	
  popular	
  regional	
  ones	
  
• Seasonal	
  products	
  outside	
  of	
  cold	
  weather	
  
For	
  retailers	
  the	
  company	
  doesn’t	
  seem	
  innovative	
  nor	
  profitable.	
  	
  
	
  
Customers:	
   A	
   fact	
   to	
   point	
   out	
   is	
   that	
   Baby	
   Boomers	
   are	
   the	
   larger	
   and	
   most	
   loyal	
  
segment	
   but	
   they	
   are	
   getting	
   older	
   and	
   their	
   preferences	
   are	
   evolving	
   into	
   living	
  
healthier	
   lifestyles	
   and	
   consuming,	
   in	
   the	
   case	
   of	
   the	
   soup	
   division,	
   more	
   salubrious,	
  
low-­‐sodium	
   based	
   products.	
   As	
   a	
   counter	
   part,	
   this	
   added	
   value	
   is	
   not	
   perceived	
   by	
  
younger	
  target	
  segments	
  of	
  the	
  population,	
  which	
  look	
  out	
  for	
  other	
  incentives.	
  
	
  
In	
  general	
  terms,	
  consumers	
  are	
  seeking	
  for	
  innovations	
  in	
  the	
  sector	
  and	
  new	
  flavors	
  
as	
  well.	
  	
  
	
  

Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

1	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
Competitors:	
   New	
   small	
   competitors	
   are	
   entering	
   the	
   market	
   with	
   more	
   convenient,	
  
healthier	
   soups	
   and	
   new	
   flavors,	
   which	
   are	
   gaining	
   popularity	
   among	
   customers,	
  
specially	
  the	
  Mexican	
  and	
  Asian	
  tastes.	
  	
  
	
  
Some	
   of	
   the	
   small	
   competitors	
   that	
   represent	
   an	
   opportunity	
   for	
   acquisition	
   and	
  
increase	
   of	
   the	
   brand	
   portfolio	
   of	
   Brannigan	
   are	
   Roarin’	
   Cajun	
   Foods,	
   Brothers	
  
Gourmet	
   and	
   Red	
   Dragon	
   Foods,	
   which	
   is	
   the	
   option	
   the	
   company	
   is	
   strongly	
  
considering.	
  
	
  
Furthermore,	
   other	
   important	
   competitors,	
   which	
   represent	
   a	
   clear	
   threat	
   to	
   the	
  
company,	
   are	
   the	
   Private	
   Labeled	
   soups,	
   which	
   have	
   been	
   increasing	
   their	
   sales	
   by	
   5%	
  
over	
   the	
   past	
   several	
   years.	
   It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   state	
   that	
   another	
   drawback	
   for	
  
Brannigan	
   is	
   that	
   retailers	
   are	
   decreasing	
   the	
   company’s	
   shelf	
   space	
   by	
   3%	
   on	
   a	
   yearly	
  
basis	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  provide	
  extra	
  space	
  to	
  their	
  own	
  private	
  labeled	
  products.	
  	
  
	
  
Collaborators:	
  Retailers	
  are	
  a	
  very	
  important	
  part	
  for	
  the	
  strategic	
  marketing	
  decisions	
  
of	
   Brannigan;	
   they	
   provide	
   the	
   adequate	
   channels	
   to	
   reach	
   the	
   end	
   consumers.	
  
Retailers	
  and	
  Brannigan	
  must	
  work	
  hand	
  in	
  hand	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  increase	
  net	
  profits.	
  The	
  
disjunctive	
  is	
  that	
  the	
  relationship	
  is	
  becoming	
  eroded	
  since	
  Brannigan	
  intends	
  to	
  have	
  
more	
   shelf	
   space	
   for	
   new	
   products	
   and	
   retailers	
   are	
   decreasing	
   the	
   shelf	
   space	
  
availability	
  to	
  introduce	
  their	
  private	
  labeled	
  products.	
  	
  
	
  
The	
   advertising	
   strategy	
   has	
   been	
   focused	
   mostly	
   on	
   pull	
   tactics,	
   investing	
   in	
  
generating	
   brand	
   awareness.	
   Yet,	
   the	
   push	
   tactics,	
   when	
   it	
   comes	
   to	
   the	
   direct	
  
relationship	
  with	
  retailers,	
  are	
  not	
  efficient	
  and	
  can	
  be	
  a	
  good	
  point	
  to	
  emphasize	
  on,	
  
for	
  future	
  negotiations.	
  	
  
	
  
Context:	
   As	
   stated	
   before,	
   sales	
   from	
   the	
   sector	
   have	
   been	
   decreasing.	
   The	
   loyal	
  
population	
  (baby	
  boomers)	
  is	
  becoming	
  older	
  and	
  the	
  new	
  generations	
  of	
  consumers,	
  
like	
   the	
   millennial	
   generation,	
   have	
   not	
   been	
   targeted	
   yet.	
   In	
   addition	
   there	
   is	
   an	
  
increasing	
  concern	
  in	
  society	
  for	
  eating	
  healthy	
  and	
  preventing	
  obesity.	
  	
  
	
  
There	
  has	
  also	
  been	
  an	
  incremental	
  shift	
  of	
  demand	
  for	
  fast	
  and	
  simple	
  meals	
  that	
  can	
  
be	
  cooked	
  without	
  taking	
  too	
  much	
  time	
  since	
  people´s	
  lifestyles	
  are	
  becoming	
  more	
  
focused	
   on	
   work	
   and	
   on	
   an	
   efficient	
   use	
   of	
   spare	
   time.	
   It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   note	
   that	
  
working	
   mothers	
   are	
   a	
   new	
   segment	
   that	
   has	
   increased	
   over	
   the	
   past	
   year	
   and	
   still	
  
cook	
  their	
  food	
  for	
  their	
  children.	
  
	
  
	
  
Now,	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   take	
   a	
   closer	
   look	
   into	
   the	
   Processed	
   Food	
   industry,	
   in	
   which	
  
Brannigan	
  operates,	
  we	
  used	
  Porter´s	
  five	
  forces	
  tool	
  to	
  analyze	
  the	
  microenvironment	
  
and	
  the	
  competitiveness	
  that	
  Brannigan	
  is	
  facing.	
  
	
  
Rivalry	
   among	
   existing	
   soup	
   sellers:	
  Based	
  in	
  our	
  knowledge	
  and	
  taking	
  as	
  a	
  reference	
  
the	
   real	
   market,	
   rivalry	
   in	
   the	
   Processed	
   Food	
   industry	
   is	
   quite	
   high	
   since	
   there	
   are	
  
many	
  companies	
  competing	
  on	
  price,	
  quality,	
  taste,	
  health	
  factors,	
  product	
  innovation,	
  

Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

2	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
and	
   product	
   usages	
   and	
   benefits.	
   The	
   main	
   challenge	
   is	
   the	
   fact	
   that	
   all	
   the	
  
competitors	
  provide	
  the	
  market	
  with	
  almost	
  the	
  same	
  product	
  range.	
  
	
  
In	
   addition,	
   private	
   labels	
   are	
   also	
   starting	
   to	
   represent	
   a	
   threat	
   for	
   Brannigan	
   since	
  
retailers	
  are	
  offering	
  cheaper	
  brands	
  and	
  products.	
  The	
  only	
  way	
  the	
  company	
  seems	
  
to	
   be	
   competing	
   with	
   retailers	
   is	
   by	
   offering	
   higher	
   quality	
   and	
   probably	
   taking	
  
advantage	
  of	
  economies	
  of	
  scale.	
  
	
  
Threat	
  of	
  new	
  entrants:	
   The	
   threat	
   of	
   new	
   entrants	
   is	
   relatively	
   low	
   since	
   most	
   of	
   the	
  
companies	
  of	
  this	
  industry	
  are	
  large	
  and	
  account	
  for	
  an	
  important	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  market	
  
share.	
  The	
  main	
  barrier	
  entries	
  are:	
  
• High	
  levels	
  of	
  advertising	
  and	
  promotion	
  investment	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  generate	
  brand	
  
awareness.	
  
• Difficulties	
  obtaining	
  shelf	
  space.	
  Retailers	
  prefer	
  known	
  brands	
  since	
  they	
  are	
  
the	
  ones	
  that	
  can	
  afford	
  intensive	
  communication	
  campaigns	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  point-­‐
of-­‐sale	
  promotions	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  generate	
  demand	
  and	
  hence,	
  sales	
  volume.	
  
	
  
Threat	
   of	
   substitute	
   products:	
  This	
  threat	
  is	
  relatively	
  high	
  since	
  there	
  are	
  many	
  fast	
  
food	
   restaurants	
   that	
   sell	
   this	
   type	
   of	
   products,	
   which	
   are	
   even	
   increasing	
   due	
   to	
   a	
  
shift	
   in	
   society’s	
   values,	
   which	
   are	
   becoming	
   more	
   occupied	
   with	
   work	
   and	
   want	
   to	
  
invest	
   the	
   smaller	
   amount	
   of	
   spare	
   time	
   they	
   have	
   in	
   things	
   other	
   than	
   cooking.	
  
Furthermore,	
  there	
  are	
  other	
  products	
  that	
  satisfy	
  the	
  same	
  need	
  of	
  a	
  quick,	
  tasty	
  and	
  
cheap	
  course.	
  	
  
	
  
Bargaining	
  power	
  of	
  buyers:	
  Customers	
  power	
  is	
  high	
  since	
  they	
  are	
  demanding	
  more	
  
innovative	
  products	
  and	
  new	
  flavors.	
  In	
  addition,	
  due	
  to	
  the	
  recession,	
  they	
  also	
  seek	
  
for	
  cheaper	
  prices,	
  which	
  fosters	
  competition	
  among	
  producers.	
  
	
  
Bargaining	
   power	
   of	
   suppliers:	
  We	
  assume	
  that	
  suppliers	
  have	
  some	
  power	
  since	
  they	
  
can	
  vary	
  the	
  quality	
  of	
  the	
  raw	
  materials.	
  Another	
  factor	
  to	
  take	
  into	
  consideration	
  is	
  
the	
  prices	
  that	
  suppliers	
  charge;	
  due	
  to	
  inflation	
  they	
  would	
  probably	
  raise	
  their	
  prices	
  
unless	
  Brannigan	
  builds	
  win-­‐win	
  relationships	
  with	
  them.	
  
	
  
	
  
And	
   finally	
   we	
   made	
   a	
   SWOT	
   analysis	
   to	
   take	
   a	
   closer	
   look	
   at	
   Brannigan	
   strengths,	
  
weaknesses,	
   opportunities	
   and	
   threats	
   to	
   identify	
   possible	
   new	
   strategies	
   and	
  
implementation	
  plans.	
  
	
  
Strengths:	
  
• Brannigan	
  is	
  the	
  current	
  market	
  leader	
  with	
  a	
  high	
  market	
  share.	
  
• It	
  has	
  high	
  brand	
  awareness	
  and	
  withholds	
  very	
  good	
  results	
  in	
  the	
  top	
  of	
  mind.	
  
• Condensed	
   and	
   Ready	
   to	
   Eat	
   soups	
   are	
   a	
   part	
   of	
   the	
   American	
   culture	
   and	
   is	
  
consistent	
  in	
  the	
  all-­‐around	
  American	
  diet.	
  
	
  
Weaknesses:	
  
• Decrease	
  in	
  sales	
  over	
  the	
  past	
  three	
  years.	
  	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

3	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
•
•

A	
   poor	
   job	
   in	
   targeting	
   new	
   segments	
   of	
   the	
   market	
   derived	
   from	
   changes	
   in	
  
society’s	
  behaviors	
  and	
  values.	
  
Internal	
   teams	
   of	
   Finance,	
   Marketing	
   and	
   Sales,	
   R&D,	
   and	
   Simple	
   Meals	
   units	
  
are	
   not	
   integrated	
   with	
   each	
   other;	
   this	
   might	
   derive	
   form	
   a	
   lack	
   of	
  
communication	
  between	
  the	
  teams.	
  

	
  
Opportunities:	
  
• Innovate	
  with	
  new	
  products	
  that	
  are	
  in	
  line	
  with	
  consumers	
  needs	
  and	
  that	
  will	
  
boost	
  sales	
  up	
  to	
  a	
  3-­‐4%	
  increase.	
  
• Generate	
  creative	
  solutions	
  with	
  retailers	
  to	
  create	
  win-­‐win	
  situations.	
  
	
  
Threats:	
  
• Private	
  labels	
  grow	
  steadily	
  5%	
  per	
  year	
  and	
  retailers	
  seek	
  new	
  shelf	
  space	
  for	
  
their	
  products,	
  reducing	
  the	
  shelf	
  space	
  availability	
  for	
  Brannigan.	
  
• New	
   competition	
   is	
   entering	
   the	
   market	
   with	
   disruptive	
   and	
   incremental	
  
innovations	
   that	
   threat	
   Brannigan’s	
   leader	
   position	
   and	
   that	
   have	
   eroded	
   its	
  
sales.	
  
• A	
   lack	
   of	
   coherent	
   targeting,	
   segmentation	
   and	
   positioning	
   has	
   created	
   a	
   gap	
  
between	
  the	
  product	
  offerings	
  and	
  what	
  consumers	
  really	
  want.	
  
	
  
	
  
The	
   case	
   states	
   that	
   four	
   members	
   of	
   different	
   departments	
   of	
   the	
   soup	
   division	
  
proposed	
   possible	
   solutions	
   to	
   stop	
   the	
   decline	
   in	
   sales	
   and	
   market	
   share	
   of	
  
Brannigan’s	
   soup	
   division.	
   We	
   stated	
   their	
   pros	
   and	
   cons	
   and	
   made	
   a	
   quantitative	
  
analysis	
   of	
   the	
   net	
   earnings	
   forecasts	
   and	
   cash	
   flows	
   to	
   take	
   the	
   best	
   possible	
   decision	
  
for	
  the	
  company.	
  
	
  

ALTERNATIVES	
  

	
  
1.	
  Invest	
  in	
  the	
  growing	
  sectors	
  
Srikant	
  Tipha,	
  director	
  of	
  the	
  Simple	
  Meal	
  Units,	
  proposes	
  to	
  emphasize	
  the	
  company´s	
  
efforts	
  in	
  the	
  Simple	
  Meals,	
  Heart	
  Healthy	
  Soups	
  and	
  Dry	
  Soups,	
  by	
  increasing	
  an	
  18%	
  
the	
  investment	
  in	
  advertising.	
  	
  
	
  
Pros:	
   The	
   strategy	
   focuses	
   on	
   products	
   and	
   brand	
   that	
   target	
   growing	
   segments	
   of	
   the	
  
market.	
   The	
   consumers	
   are	
   beginning	
   to	
   shift	
   into	
   healthy	
   lifestyles	
   and	
   easy	
   to	
  
prepare	
  meals	
  due	
  to	
  time	
  constrains	
  in	
  their	
  working	
  schedules,	
  and	
  it	
  works	
  perfect	
  
with	
   Srikant’s	
   division.	
   (It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   understand	
   the	
   personal	
   motivations	
   when	
  
analyzing	
  all	
  the	
  possibilities).	
  
	
  
Cons:	
  The	
  strategy	
  focuses	
  on	
  “star	
  products”	
  but	
  leaves	
  the	
  “cash	
  cow”	
  (ready	
  to	
  eat	
  
soups)	
   behind.	
   This	
   is	
   a	
   mistake	
   often	
   made	
   because	
   star	
   products	
   want	
   to	
   be	
  
promoted	
  but	
  if	
  the	
  “cash	
  cow”,	
  which	
  finances	
  the	
  “star	
  products”,	
  loses	
  profit,	
  the	
  
subsidy	
   cannot	
   continue.	
   In	
   addition,	
   previous	
   experience	
   with	
   Annabelle’s	
   acquisition	
  
process	
  was	
  slowly	
  picking	
  up	
  but	
  did	
  not	
  meet	
  the	
  expected	
  growth	
  forecasts.	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

4	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
In	
  the	
  chart	
  shown	
  below	
  we	
  can	
  see	
  that	
  with	
  this	
  strategy	
  Brannigan’s	
  net	
  earning	
  
wouldn’t	
  increase,	
  indeed	
  they	
  would	
  be	
  reduced	
  by	
  a	
  4%.	
  This	
  is	
  why	
  this	
  alternative	
  
is	
   not	
   a	
   good	
   one	
   regarding	
   the	
   goal	
   of	
   increasing	
   3-­‐4%	
   the	
   net	
   earnings.	
   (Exhibit	
   1	
  
shows	
  the	
  calculations	
  done	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  do	
  this	
  forecast)	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
2.	
  Acquire	
  product	
  lines	
  to	
  complement	
  the	
  core	
  growing	
  sectors	
  
Claire	
   Mackey,	
   director	
   of	
   Finance	
   and	
   Planning,	
   proposition	
   is	
   to	
   buy	
   out	
   small	
  
companies	
  to	
  enter	
  healthier	
  and	
  convenient	
  segments	
  that	
  have	
  new	
  flavors	
  and	
  that	
  
Brannigan’s	
   product	
   portfolio	
   does	
   not	
   have.	
   It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   understand	
   the	
  
situation	
  of	
  the	
  soup	
  division,	
  these	
  new	
  initiatives	
  might	
  be	
  growing	
  in	
  market	
  share	
  
but	
  their	
  future	
  is	
  uncertain.	
  
	
  
Pros:	
  The	
  acquisition	
  might	
  seem	
  positive	
  since	
  the	
  investment	
  in	
  R&D	
  is	
  literally	
  null.	
  
If	
   the	
   brands	
   that	
   are	
   acquired	
   are	
   kept,	
   there	
   is	
   an	
   important	
   reduction	
   in	
  
cannibalization	
  effects.	
  
	
  
Cons:	
   A	
   mayor	
   investment	
   has	
   to	
   be	
   made	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   acquire	
   a	
   new	
   company.	
  
Sometimes	
  the	
  synergies	
  between	
  the	
  companies	
  are	
  not	
  stable	
  enough	
  and	
  miscues	
  
in	
  the	
  lines	
  of	
  production	
  could	
  occur.	
  The	
  past	
  acquisition	
  of	
  Annabelle’s	
  did	
  not	
  meet	
  
the	
  expectations,	
  so	
  the	
  board	
  of	
  directors	
  might	
  not	
  look	
  at	
  it	
  with	
  enthusiastic	
  eyes.	
  
	
  
In	
  the	
  calculations	
  carried	
  out	
  we	
  observed	
  that	
  this	
  strategy	
  wasn´t	
  profitable	
  either	
  
since	
   Brannigan’s	
   net	
   earning	
   would	
   be	
   decreased	
   by	
   an	
   average	
   of	
   7%	
   per	
   year.	
  
(Exhibit	
  2	
  shows	
  the	
  calculations	
  done	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  do	
  this	
  forecast)	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

	
  

5	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
3.	
  Invest	
  in	
  organic	
  growth	
  from	
  internally	
  developed	
  new	
  products	
  
Anna	
   Chong,	
   Chief	
   Innovation	
   Officer,	
   shows	
   an	
   alternative	
   by	
   investing	
   in	
   R&D	
   and	
  
advertising	
   and	
   promoting	
   new	
   product	
   entries.	
   She	
   outlines	
   that	
   it	
   is	
   important	
   to	
  
“milk	
   the	
   cash-­‐cows”	
   and	
   subsidize	
   the	
   investment	
   of	
   the	
   “star	
   products”.	
   She	
  
proposes	
   very	
   original	
   ideas,	
   like	
   new	
   flavors	
   that	
   are	
   appealing	
   to	
   the	
   growing	
  
demands	
  of	
  the	
  public,	
  new	
  innovative	
  packages	
  and	
  new	
  usages	
  of	
  the	
  soups.	
  	
  
	
  
Pros:	
  Original	
  ideas,	
  and	
  no	
  need	
  to	
  invest	
  heavily	
  on	
  acquiring	
  a	
  small	
  company,	
  which	
  
avoids	
  the	
  risk	
  of	
  miscues	
  in	
  the	
  production	
  lines.	
  The	
  new	
  innovations	
  target	
  different	
  
segments	
   for	
   the	
   soup	
   division,	
   specially	
   the	
   growing	
   categories	
   for	
   healthy	
   meals	
   and	
  
active	
  lifestyles.	
  One	
  important	
  innovation	
  is	
  to	
  add	
  new	
  products	
  for	
  the	
  Ready	
  to	
  Eat	
  
category,	
  which	
  is	
  the	
  most	
  profitable	
  of	
  the	
  company.	
  
	
  
Cons:	
   Only	
   one	
   out	
   of	
   ten	
   innovative	
   products	
   actually	
   succeeds	
   in	
   the	
   market	
   and	
  
becomes	
  an	
  established	
  product	
  in	
  the	
  company´s	
  portfolio;	
  the	
  remaining	
  nine	
  do	
  not	
  
last	
  longer	
  than	
  two	
  years.	
  It	
  is	
  very	
  difficult	
  to	
  assign	
  exact	
  costs	
  to	
  the	
  products	
  that	
  
were	
   created	
   from	
   inside	
   the	
   company.	
   Moreover,	
   adding	
   new	
   products	
   with	
   the	
  
diminishing	
   shelf	
   space	
   in	
   the	
   retailer	
   stores	
   represented	
   another	
   challenge	
   for	
   this	
  
plan	
  since	
  new	
  products	
  would	
  need	
  a	
  reduction	
  of	
  the	
  shelf	
  space	
  from	
  the	
  Ready	
  to	
  
Eat	
  soups.	
  
	
  
With	
   this	
   alternative	
   we	
   can	
   see	
   that	
   once	
   again	
   Brannigan’s	
   net	
   earnings	
   wouldn’t	
   be	
  
increased	
   but	
   instead	
   decreased	
   a	
   2%	
   on	
   average	
   per	
   year.	
   (Exhibit	
   3	
   shows	
   the	
  
calculations	
  done	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  do	
  this	
  forecast)	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
4.	
  Invest	
  in	
  the	
  core	
  
Bob	
  Pugh,	
  director	
  of	
  Marketing	
  and	
  Sales,	
  focuses	
  his	
  strategy	
  on	
  an	
  increase	
  in	
  the	
  
marketing	
   expenditure	
   by	
   $20MM	
   to	
   increase	
   brand	
   awareness	
   and	
   restore	
   it	
   to	
  
previous	
  numbers.	
  He	
  also	
  states	
  a	
  price	
  decrease	
  of	
  the	
  Ready	
  to	
  Eat	
  soups	
  by	
  5	
  cents	
  
and	
   proposes	
   a	
   $22MM	
   investment	
   in	
   capital	
   to	
   enhance	
   the	
   manufacturing	
   plants’	
  
efficiency	
  and	
  cut	
  production	
  costs.	
  
	
  
Pros:	
  The	
  risk	
  of	
  introducing	
  new	
  products,	
  that	
  might	
  not	
  be	
  effective	
  in	
  the	
  market,	
  is	
  
reduced	
   by	
   100%	
   since	
   it	
   focuses	
   on	
   core	
   products,	
   primarily	
   the	
   Ready	
   to	
   Eat	
  
products,	
  which	
  are	
  the	
  most	
  successful	
  products	
  of	
  the	
  soup	
  division.	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

6	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
Cons:	
   Price	
   reduction	
   would	
   harm	
   the	
   premium	
   brand	
   image	
   Brannigan	
   already	
   has.	
  
The	
  investment	
  in	
  the	
  manufacturing	
  plants	
  and	
  in	
  marketing	
  adds	
  up	
  to	
  $42	
  million,	
  a	
  
heavy	
  investment	
  that	
  does	
  not	
  provide	
  added	
  value	
  to	
  the	
  current	
  strategy,	
  which	
  is	
  
clearly	
  failing.	
  
	
  
In	
   this	
   case	
   this	
   alternative	
   seems	
   profitable,	
   we	
   can	
   see	
   that	
   Brannigan’s	
   net	
   earnings	
  
will	
   be	
   increasing	
   during	
   the	
   next	
   3	
   years.	
   (Exhibit	
   4	
   shows	
   the	
   calculations	
   done	
   in	
  
order	
  to	
  do	
  this	
  forecast)	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  

	
  

RECOMMENDATION	
  
	
  
Based	
  on	
  the	
  investigation	
  and	
  data	
  analyzed	
  for	
  all	
  the	
  alternatives,	
  we	
  think	
  that	
  the	
  
best	
   alternative	
   is	
   a	
   mix	
   of	
   the	
   option	
   three	
   and	
   option	
   four.	
   It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
  
understand	
  that	
  these	
  options	
  alone	
  may	
  not	
  generate	
  a	
  stable	
  and	
  steady	
  growth	
  in	
  
the	
  long	
  term	
  due	
  to	
  possible	
  fluctuations	
  in	
  the	
  market	
  trends.	
  
	
  
Although	
  option	
  four	
  does	
  look	
  profitable,	
  qualitative	
  analysis	
  for	
  the	
  long	
  term	
  such	
  
as	
  brand	
  health,	
  brand	
  equity	
  and	
  brand	
  perceptions	
  in	
  the	
  consumers	
  minds,	
  are	
  not	
  
addressed	
   properly	
   and	
   will	
   hinder	
   the	
   company’s	
   growth	
   in	
   an	
   ever	
   changing	
   and	
  
constantly	
  fragmenting	
  market.	
  
	
  
As	
   managers,	
   we	
   have	
   a	
   holistic	
   view	
   of	
   the	
   whole	
   context	
   and	
   understand	
   that	
   it	
   is	
  
important	
  to	
  reinforce	
  the	
  “cash	
  cow”	
  of	
  the	
  division	
  which	
  are	
  the	
  Ready	
  to	
  Eat	
  Soups	
  
(option	
   4),	
   but	
   we	
   also	
   understand	
   that	
   the	
   leader	
   position	
   in	
   the	
   market	
   obliges	
  
Brannigan	
   to	
   invest	
   in	
   R&D	
   due	
   to	
   the	
   changing	
   trends	
   and	
   needs	
   of	
   the	
   market	
  
(option	
  3).	
  
	
  
It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   invest	
   in	
   marketing	
   to	
   make	
   the	
   RTE	
   soups	
   strong	
   in	
   the	
   market,	
   and	
  
to	
   be	
   able	
   to	
   keep	
   financing	
   the	
   “question	
   mark”	
   products,	
   which	
   will	
   become	
   stars	
  
and	
  future	
  “cash	
  cows”	
  with	
  the	
  way	
  the	
  market	
  is	
  growing.	
  	
  
	
  
This	
  mix	
  of	
  both	
  strategies	
  certifies	
  the	
  company´s	
  short	
  term	
  goals	
  and	
  envisions	
  long-­‐
term	
   profits	
   with	
   the	
   investment	
   made,	
   since	
   it	
   stretches	
   the	
   life	
   cycle	
   of	
   the	
   RTE	
  
soups	
  and	
  boosts	
  growth	
  in	
  the	
  early	
  stages	
  of	
  the	
  new	
  products	
  life	
  cycles.	
  
	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

7	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  

IMPLEMENTATION	
  PLAN	
  
	
  
Due	
  to	
  the	
  context	
  and	
  present	
  situation	
  of	
  the	
  company,	
  the	
  most	
  important	
  thing	
  is	
  
to	
  start	
  with	
  the	
  basics,	
  go	
  to	
  the	
  consumer	
  needs,	
  and	
  find	
  out	
  what	
  they	
  value.	
  The	
  
first	
   thing	
   to	
   do	
   is	
   to	
   reposition	
   Brannigan	
   in	
   consumers’	
   minds	
   by	
   analyzing	
   the	
  
different	
  segments	
  of	
  the	
  market.	
  	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
From	
  the	
  consumer	
  information	
  research	
  made	
  by	
  Mr.	
  DeGennaro,	
  38%	
  of	
  millenials	
  
eat	
  soup	
  as	
  a	
  snack,	
  78%	
  think	
  of	
  soup	
  as	
  being	
  healthy	
  and	
  a	
  low	
  calorie	
  option	
  for	
  
dieting,	
  and	
  61%	
  of	
  consumers	
  take	
  low	
  sodium	
  into	
  account	
  when	
  purchasing.	
  Even	
  
though	
  Baby	
  Boomers	
  are	
  the	
  biggest	
  market	
  and	
  most	
  profitable,	
  the	
  tendency	
  in	
  the	
  
future	
   is	
   that	
   it	
   will	
   be	
   reduced,	
   so	
   targeting	
   younger	
   segments	
   is	
   important	
   for	
   the	
  
long-­‐term	
  growth	
  of	
  the	
  company.	
  
	
  
	
  
1.	
  Marketing	
  Mix	
  
	
  
Product	
  
The	
   branding	
   strategy	
   will	
   consist	
   of	
   implementing	
   an	
   umbrella	
   brand	
   of	
   Brannigan’s	
  
soup	
   division	
   that	
   will	
   give	
   emotional	
   values	
   to	
   the	
   products	
   and	
   brands	
   targeted	
   to	
  
the	
  different	
  market	
  segments.	
  These	
  products	
  will	
  include	
  functional	
  benefits	
  that	
  will	
  
satisfy	
  their	
  needs.	
  
	
  
Positioning	
  statement:	
  
	
  
“For	
  people	
  who	
  enjoy	
  healthy,	
  easy	
  to	
  cook,	
  savory	
  food,	
  Brannigan's	
  Soup	
  is	
  a	
  brand	
  
of	
  soups	
  that	
  offers	
  convenient,	
  varied,	
  trustworthy,	
  and	
  very	
  good	
  quality	
  soups	
  that	
  
allows	
  customers	
  to	
  enjoy	
  meals	
  while	
  taking	
  care	
  of	
  their	
  health	
  and	
  to	
  save	
  time	
  at	
  
very	
  competitive	
  prices	
  based	
  on	
  its	
  experience	
  as	
  leader	
  in	
  the	
  category	
  and	
  its	
  
innovative	
  products”	
  
	
  
Based	
  on	
  this	
  positioning	
  statement,	
  the	
  company	
  must	
  enter	
  the	
  21st	
  century	
  with	
  a	
  
strong	
   argument	
   that	
   will	
   reclaim	
   their	
   position	
   as	
   leader	
   of	
   the	
   market	
   providing	
   a	
  
better	
  life	
  quality	
  offering	
  through	
  their	
  products	
  and	
  services.	
  (The	
  market	
  research	
  
showed	
  they	
  fell	
  back	
  on	
  health	
  trends,	
  diet	
  claims,	
  convenient	
  offerings,	
  flavors,	
  and	
  
seasonal	
  products,	
  which	
  are	
  growing	
  trends).	
  
	
  
The	
   R&D	
   products	
   will	
   be	
   divided	
   into	
   the	
   previously	
   stated	
   segments	
   and	
   will	
   provide	
  
Brannigan	
   with	
   a	
   Diversification	
   Strategy	
   based	
   on	
   Ansoff’s	
   Matrix	
   since	
   the	
   market	
  
trends	
   are	
   not	
   mature	
   enough	
   yet,	
   and	
   the	
   products	
   will	
   be	
   introduced	
   as	
   new	
  
innovations.	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

8	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Packaged	
  deli	
  soups:	
  Price	
  premium,	
  for	
  baby	
  boomers	
  and	
  educated	
  palates	
  
Simple	
  healthy	
  weight	
  watchers	
  soups	
  with	
  dietary	
  components:	
  targeted	
  to	
  all	
  
but	
  the	
  youngsters	
  
Active	
  lifestyles	
  soups	
  and	
  broths:	
  millenials,	
  working	
  mothers	
  
Convenient	
   great	
   meals	
   (changing	
   the	
   usage	
   of	
   the	
   soup	
   into	
   a	
   sauce):	
   working	
  
mothers	
  
New	
   flavored	
   cold	
   soups	
   (E.g:	
   chilled	
   tomato	
   and	
   avocado,	
   swan´s	
   summer	
  
soup):	
  millennial,	
  working	
  mothers	
  
New	
  flavored	
  teriyaki	
  beef:	
  millennial,	
  working	
  mothers	
  
Chicken	
  Noodled	
  Soup:	
  millenial,	
  working	
  mothers	
  and	
  youngsters	
  
Microwave	
  ready	
  soups:	
  millenial	
  and	
  working	
  mothers	
  
Portable	
   thermic	
   microwave	
   soups	
   cold	
   on	
   the	
   hands,	
   hot	
   on	
   the	
   mouth:	
  
millenials	
  and	
  working	
  mothers	
  
Savory	
  and	
  tasty	
  tomato	
  meatballs	
  soup:	
  Youngsters	
  

	
  
On	
  the	
  other	
  hand,	
  the	
  RTE	
  soup	
  category	
  is	
  the	
  most	
  profitable	
  one	
  and	
  can	
  be	
  stated	
  
to	
  be	
  the	
  “cash	
  cow”	
  (based	
  on	
  the	
  BCG	
  matrix)	
  of	
  the	
  company.	
  The	
  market	
  is	
  very	
  
mature	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  products,	
  this	
  is	
  why	
  based	
  on	
  Ansoff’s	
  matrix,	
  the	
  strategy	
  will	
  
focus	
  on	
  penetrating	
  the	
  market.	
  
	
  
	
  
Place	
  
Distribution	
  is	
  a	
  big	
  concern	
  for	
  the	
  soup	
  division.	
  One	
  of	
  it’s	
  major	
  problems	
  is	
  that	
  
private	
   labels	
   are	
   entering	
   the	
   market	
   and	
   gaining	
   a	
   constant	
   5%	
   growth	
   due	
   to	
   the	
  
increasing	
  price	
  sensitivity.	
  This	
  has	
  created	
  a	
  conflict	
  of	
  interests	
  between	
  Brannigan	
  
and	
  its	
  retail	
  partners	
  in	
  the	
  shelves	
  of	
  the	
  supermarkets.	
  	
  
	
  
A	
  3%	
  of	
  shelf	
  space	
  has	
  been	
  reduced	
  on	
  a	
  yearly	
  basis,	
  even	
  though	
  it	
  is	
  not	
  the	
  major	
  
problem	
  the	
  company	
  is	
  facing,	
  it	
  is	
  a	
  symptom	
  that	
  must	
  be	
  put	
  into	
  consideration.	
  	
  
We	
   understand	
   that	
   incentives	
   must	
   be	
   offered	
   to	
   the	
   Retail	
   partners	
   to	
   keep	
   shelf	
  
space	
  for	
  Brannigan	
  soups,	
  especially	
  for	
  the	
  new	
  innovations	
  coming	
  up.	
  	
  
In	
  order	
  to	
  address	
  this	
  issue	
  we	
  propose	
  the	
  following	
  actions:	
  
	
  
• Invest	
  in	
  an	
  Information	
  Technology	
  that	
  shares	
  information	
  between	
  retailers	
  
and	
   Brannigan	
   on	
   stock	
   keeping	
   units	
   that	
   will	
   allow	
   an	
   implementation	
   of	
   a	
  
“just	
  in	
  time”	
  model	
  for	
  stock	
  replenishment.	
  This	
  way,	
  the	
  stock	
  is	
  reduced	
  in	
  
the	
  retailers	
  warehouse	
  and	
  creates	
  a	
  positive	
  effect	
  on	
  their	
  balance	
  sheets.	
  	
  
• Invest	
   in	
   the	
   retailers	
   store	
   with	
   promotional	
   POS	
   materials	
   with	
   special	
  
product	
  stands	
  and	
  advertising	
  that	
  will	
  drive	
  an	
  increase	
  in	
  sales.	
  
• Create	
   in	
   store	
   activities	
   promoted	
   by	
   Brannigan	
   to	
   show	
   the	
   customers	
   new	
  
recipes	
  and	
  ways	
  to	
  use	
  the	
  soups	
  they	
  can	
  find	
  inside	
  the	
  stores.	
  	
  
	
  
We	
   believe	
   this	
   investment	
   in	
   the	
   distribution	
   channels	
   is	
   crucial	
   for	
   the	
   sustained	
  
relationship	
  with	
  the	
  retailers	
  since	
  they	
  sell	
  a	
  62.9%	
  of	
  our	
  total	
  product	
  sales	
  and	
  it	
  
creates	
  a	
  win-­‐win	
  situation	
  for	
  both.	
  
	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

9	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
	
  
Price	
  
It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   state	
   that	
   price	
   is	
   a	
   sensitive	
   issue	
   for	
   Brannigan,	
   since	
   it	
   is	
   the	
  
current	
  leader	
  of	
  the	
  market	
  and	
  has	
  high	
  brand	
  awareness	
  and	
  top	
  of	
  mind,	
  the	
  new	
  
brand	
   positioning	
   will	
   reinforce	
   this	
   image.	
   This	
   is	
   why	
   we	
   will	
   not	
   increase	
   nor	
  
decrease	
  prices	
  for	
  the	
  RTE	
  soups.	
  
	
  
Instead	
   we	
   are	
   going	
   to	
   introduce	
   to	
   the	
   market	
   a	
   premium	
   brand	
   of	
   packaged	
   Deli	
  
soups	
  by	
  Brannigan	
  that	
  will	
  be	
  priced	
  higher	
  than	
  the	
  RTE	
  soups.	
  This	
  is	
  a	
  strategy	
  that	
  
mixes	
   Pricing,	
   Product	
   and	
   Brand	
   Management,	
   and	
   Knowing	
   the	
   Consumer	
   trends,	
   all	
  
together.	
  Price	
  premium	
  will	
  give	
  an	
  image	
  of	
  an	
  enhanced	
  high	
  quality	
  product,	
  it	
  will	
  
increase	
  the	
  product	
  portfolio	
  of	
  the	
  brand	
  and	
  it	
  will	
  also	
  create	
  what	
  we	
  know	
  as	
  a	
  
“Compromise	
  Effect”	
  in	
  the	
  behavior	
  of	
  consumers.	
  	
  
	
  
This	
   effect	
   states	
   that	
   adding	
   a	
   new	
   product	
   to	
   the	
   set	
   of	
   choices	
   a	
   consumer	
   has,	
   can	
  
shift	
   the	
   consumers	
   preferences,	
   people	
   tend	
   to	
   compromise	
   and	
   choose	
   an	
   option	
  
that	
  looks	
  superior	
  but	
  that	
  has	
  an	
  economic	
  value	
  also.	
  	
  
When	
  consumers	
  arrive	
  to	
  the	
  shelf,	
  they	
  will	
  encounter	
  a	
  market	
  with	
  a	
  private	
  label	
  
soup	
   on	
   the	
   left,	
   Brannigan	
   RTE	
   soup	
   in	
   the	
   middle,	
   and	
   Brannigan	
   Deli	
   Soup	
   in	
   the	
  
right.	
  They	
  will	
  most	
  probably	
  choose	
  the	
  RTE	
  soup	
  in	
  the	
  middle	
  since	
  it’s	
  the	
  safest	
  
choice.	
   It	
   gives	
   more	
   quality	
   than	
   the	
   private	
   label	
   at	
   a	
   more	
   affordable	
   price	
   than	
   the	
  
premium	
  deli	
  soup.	
  
	
  
Note	
   that	
   by	
   increasing	
   consumption	
   of	
   RTE	
   Brannigan	
   soups,	
   we	
   are	
   fostering	
   sales	
  
and	
   profit	
   on	
   the	
   short	
   term	
   to	
   finance	
   the	
   innovative	
   products	
   introduced	
   to	
   the	
  
market.	
  
	
  
	
  
Promotion	
  
Discounts,	
   offers,	
   and	
   promotions	
   will	
   be	
   made	
   on	
   mass	
   media	
   and	
   digital	
   as	
   a	
   Pull	
  
Strategy	
   to	
   increase	
   sales	
   in	
   the	
   retail	
   channels	
   of	
   distribution.	
   (Push	
   strategies	
   are	
  
stated	
  in	
  the	
  Place	
  section	
  of	
  the	
  Marketing	
  Mix).	
  In	
  order	
  to	
  reach	
  consumers	
  with	
  the	
  
right	
   message	
   at	
   the	
   right	
   time,	
   an	
   Integrated	
   Marketing	
   communications	
   campaign	
  
sketch	
  has	
  been	
  outlined	
  below	
  using	
  the	
  6M’s.	
  
	
  
Integrated	
  Marketing	
  communications	
  Plan	
  (6	
  m’s)	
  
-­‐	
   Market:	
   The	
   market’s	
   fragmentation	
   and	
   growing	
   new	
   trends,	
   combined	
   with	
   a	
  
decline	
  of	
  sales	
  in	
  Brannigan	
  Soup	
  division,	
  has	
  generated	
  a	
  necessity	
  inside	
  Brannigan	
  
to	
  change	
  the	
  marketing	
  strategy.	
  
	
  
-­‐	
  Mission:	
  The	
  integrated	
  marketing	
  campaign’s	
  mission	
  will	
  be	
  to	
  reposition	
  the	
  brand	
  
as	
  an	
  innovative	
  company	
  that	
  owns	
  the	
  leadership	
  not	
  only	
  for	
  its	
  brand	
  but	
  also	
  for	
  
increasing	
  the	
  life	
  quality	
  of	
  its	
  consumers.	
  
	
  
-­‐	
  The	
  key	
  message	
  will	
  be:	
  “Brannigan,	
  the	
  soup	
  that	
  cares	
  for	
  you,	
  just	
  like	
  a	
  mother	
  
would,	
  every	
  time,	
  everywhere”.	
  	
  

Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

10	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
The	
   tone	
   of	
   the	
   message	
   will	
   be	
   emotional	
   on	
   an	
   early	
   stage,	
   but	
   we	
   consider	
   that	
  
after	
   the	
   first	
   message	
   has	
   had	
   a	
   wide	
   coverage	
   and	
   frequency	
   on	
   Mass	
   Media	
  
advertising.	
   A	
   T.V.	
   ad	
   will	
   be	
   aired	
   during	
   the	
   Superbowl,	
   the	
   world´s	
   most	
   viewed	
  
sporting	
   event.	
   It	
   is	
   a	
   great	
   opportunity	
   for	
   people	
   to	
   see	
   Brannigan’s	
   brand	
  
repositioning	
  and	
  the	
  company’s	
  new	
  communication.	
  
	
  
A	
   second	
   stage	
   of	
   the	
   implementation	
   plan	
   will	
   include	
   new	
   commercials	
   to	
   create	
  
brand	
  awareness	
  of	
  the	
  new	
  products	
  and	
  will	
  show	
  the	
  functional	
  benefits	
  through	
  a	
  
fun	
  and	
  humorous	
  tone.	
  	
  
	
  
Also,	
  special	
  promotions	
  and	
  offers	
  will	
  be	
  made	
  year	
  wide	
  depending	
  on	
  the	
  product	
  
offerings	
  and	
  stations	
  to	
  increase	
  sales	
  on	
  specific	
  products.	
  
	
  
-­‐	
  Media:	
  The	
  media	
  to	
  be	
  used	
  is	
  above	
  the	
  line	
  media,	
  specially	
  television,	
  to	
  increase	
  
coverage	
   in	
   the	
   campaign.	
   Social	
   media	
   will	
   also	
   be	
   used	
   to	
   propagate	
   campaign	
   but	
   it	
  
will	
  be	
  explained	
  with	
  more	
  detail	
  further	
  on.	
  	
  
	
  
-­‐	
   Money:	
   According	
  to	
   the	
  exhibits	
   of	
  the	
  case,	
  $170	
   million	
   is	
   the	
  estimated	
  budget	
  
for	
   marketing	
   expenses	
   of	
   year	
   2013.	
   Exhibit	
   5	
   shows	
   the	
   percentage	
   of	
   the	
   budget	
  
devoted	
  to	
  each	
  marketing	
  activity	
  described	
  in	
  more	
  detail.	
  
	
  
-­‐	
  Measurement:	
  The	
  campaign	
  will	
  be	
  measured	
  in	
  GRP´s	
  (frequency	
  x	
  coverage)	
  and	
  
impacts.	
  For	
  Digital,	
  the	
  campaign	
  will	
  be	
  measured	
  by	
  impressions,	
  clicks,	
  increase	
  of	
  
the	
  website	
  visit,	
  and	
  acquisitions.	
  Social	
  media	
  will	
  be	
  measured	
  on	
  amount	
  of	
  likes,	
  
re-­‐posts,	
  re-­‐tweets,	
  shared	
  videos	
  and	
  comments.	
  
	
  
Sales	
  Force	
  	
  
Hunters	
  vs.	
  Farmers	
  
In	
  order	
  to	
  reach	
  an	
  increase	
  of	
  a	
  4%	
  sales	
  earnings	
  per	
  year,	
  the	
  sales	
  force	
  must	
  be	
  
reorganized	
   thoroughly.	
   There	
   is	
   a	
   clear	
   distinction	
   in	
   the	
   sales	
   force	
   team	
   between	
  
hunter	
   and	
   farmers	
   (hunters	
   reach	
   out	
   for	
   new	
   customers	
   acquisitions	
   and	
   farmers	
  
foster	
  relationships	
  between	
  the	
  key	
  accounts).	
  	
  
	
  
A	
   20-­‐80	
   division	
   will	
   be	
   made	
   (20%	
   farmers	
   -­‐	
   80%	
   hunters).	
   This	
   will	
   increase	
   the	
  
search	
   and	
   acquisition	
   of	
   new	
   retail	
   partners	
   nationwide	
   and	
   they	
   will	
   push	
   for	
   the	
  
new	
   star	
   products	
   without	
   leaving	
   RTE	
   soups	
   behind,	
   which	
   are	
   the	
   most	
   important	
  
source	
  of	
  income.	
  	
  
	
  
Salaries	
   will	
   include	
   a	
   mix	
   of	
   fixed	
   and	
   an	
   increased	
   percentage	
   of	
   the	
   variable	
   part.	
  
Bonuses	
   will	
   be	
   provided	
   to	
   the	
   sales-­‐force	
   teams	
   if	
   they	
   meet	
   and	
   surpass	
   the	
   year	
  
sales	
  objectives.	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

11	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
2.	
  Digital	
  Marketing	
  Strategy	
  
	
  
It	
   is	
   important	
   to	
   state	
   that	
   the	
   way	
   consumers	
   behave	
   in	
   the	
   stages	
   of	
   the	
   buying	
  
process	
   has	
   changed	
   drastically.	
   People	
   now	
   have	
   multiple	
   touch	
   points	
   with	
   products	
  
and	
  brands	
  on	
  offline	
  but	
  also	
  online	
  communication	
  channels.	
  In	
  addition	
  to	
  this	
  point	
  
is	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  information	
  people	
  search	
  online	
  to	
  take	
  decisions	
  on	
  the	
  market	
  place.	
  
This	
  is	
  called	
  the	
  Zero	
  Moment	
  of	
  Truth	
  and	
  a	
  few	
  years	
  ago	
  it	
  was	
  a	
  trend,	
  but	
  it	
  has	
  
become	
  a	
  reality	
  nowadays.	
  
	
  
We,	
   therefore,	
   decided	
   to	
   create	
   a	
   special	
   point	
   for	
   Digital	
   Marketing,	
   since	
   it	
   involves	
  
strategies	
   of	
   all	
   the	
   components	
   of	
   the	
   marketing	
   mix,	
   but	
   that	
   differs	
   in	
   the	
  
implementation	
  from	
  the	
  offline	
  channels.	
  
	
  
We	
   are	
   going	
   to	
   use	
   the	
   three	
   components	
   of	
   digital	
   media	
   in	
   an	
   integrated	
   way.	
  
Owned	
   media	
   (with	
   the	
   creation	
   of	
   the	
   company´s	
   own	
   website),	
   paid	
   media	
   (through	
  
the	
   advertising	
   and	
   promotions	
   that	
   will	
   be	
   made	
   through	
   blogs	
   and	
   digital	
  
magazines),	
   and	
   earned	
   media	
   (through	
   social	
   networks	
   comments,	
   shared	
   links	
   and	
  
posts	
  made	
  by	
  active	
  consumers).	
  
The	
   key	
   point	
   of	
   the	
   website	
   is	
   to	
   increase	
   sales	
   of	
   Brannigan’s	
   soups	
   and	
   other	
  
products	
   but	
   also	
   create	
   a	
   community	
   that	
   gives	
   value	
   to	
   the	
   consumers,	
   further	
  
empowering	
   the	
   brand´s	
   relationship,	
   image,	
   and	
   positive	
   awareness	
   with	
   the	
   final	
  
client.	
  	
  
	
  
Search	
  Engine	
  Optimization	
  will	
  be	
  made	
  through	
  an	
  organic	
  optimization	
  using	
  special	
  
keywords	
   such	
   as	
   low	
   sodium	
   based	
   soups,	
   new	
   soup	
   recipes,	
   healthy	
   soups	
   in	
   the	
  
market,	
  or	
  how	
  to	
  cook	
  a	
  fast	
  but	
  tasty	
  meal	
  in	
  10	
  minutes.	
  These	
  are	
  just	
  examples	
  of	
  
some	
   of	
   the	
   search	
   words	
   people	
   might	
   use	
   on	
   Google,	
   Bing	
   or	
   Yahoo.	
   Further	
  
investigation	
   is	
   recommended	
   to	
   state	
   what	
   are	
   the	
   searching	
   habits	
   of	
   the	
  
consumers.	
  
	
  
Further	
  on,	
  a	
  Search	
  Engine	
  Marketing	
  strategy	
  will	
  be	
  made	
  with	
  promotional	
  banners	
  
posted	
  through	
  paid	
  media	
  such	
  as	
  blogs	
  of	
  key	
  opinion	
  leaders	
  in	
  the	
  cooking	
  industry	
  
and	
   specialized	
   cooking	
   digital	
   magazines.	
   This	
   campaign	
   will	
   be	
   measured	
   in	
   a	
   Cost	
  
Per	
   Click	
   basis	
   to	
   ensure	
   return	
   of	
   the	
   investment	
   and	
   an	
   increase	
   in	
   volume	
   to	
  
Brannigan	
  soup	
  website.	
  
	
  
And	
  finally,	
  a	
  Facebook	
  page	
  will	
  be	
  created	
  to	
  generate	
  engagement	
  with	
  consumers	
  
and	
   offer	
   them	
   content	
   of	
   value.	
   A	
   YouTube	
   channel	
   will	
   be	
   created	
   with	
   5-­‐minute	
  
videos	
   of	
   cooking	
   recipes	
   using	
   Brannigan	
   soups.	
   A	
   twitter	
   account	
   will	
   be	
   activated	
   to	
  
tweet	
   the	
   recipe	
   of	
   the	
   day,	
   or	
   products	
   of	
   the	
   day,	
   and	
   new	
   interactions	
   the	
   brand	
  
has	
  to	
  further	
  engage	
  the	
  consumers.	
  Social	
  media	
  will	
  be	
  monitored	
  closely	
  to	
  protect	
  
the	
   brand	
   image	
   but	
   will	
   serve	
   as	
   a	
   contact	
   point	
   to	
   direct	
   the	
   consumers	
   to	
   the	
  
website	
  and	
  generate	
  sales.	
  
	
  
The	
  main	
  benefits	
  we	
  see	
  in	
  this	
  strategy	
  involve	
  the	
  distribution	
  channel:	
  
• Costs	
  will	
  decrease	
  and	
  margins	
  will	
  be	
  incremented	
  because	
  it	
  is	
  a	
  direct	
  sell	
  
that	
  does	
  not	
  have	
  an	
  intermediary’s	
  fee.	
  	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

12	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
•
•

•

Digital	
  channel	
  is	
  available	
  24/7	
  	
  
Adding	
   a	
   shopping	
   cart	
   provides	
   full	
   information	
   about	
   the	
   consumer’s	
  
preferences,	
   making	
   it	
   possible	
   to	
   offer	
   suggestions	
   for	
   cross-­‐selling	
  
complementary	
  products	
  (like	
  the	
  related	
  products	
  amazon	
  recommends)	
  
It	
   serves	
   as	
   a	
   communicational	
   tool	
   to	
   offer	
   relevant	
   information	
   of	
   new	
  
promotions,	
   recipes,	
   nutritional	
   facts	
   and	
   recommendations,	
   flavors,	
   and	
  
packaged	
  innovations	
  that	
  consumers	
  value	
  

	
  
Concerning	
   Pricing	
   strategies,	
   prices	
   will	
   remain	
   the	
   same	
   in	
   digital	
   to	
   keep	
   a	
   fair	
  
competition	
   since	
   the	
   company	
   does	
   not	
   want	
   to	
   hamper	
   the	
   relationship	
   with	
   the	
  
retailers	
  that	
  account	
  for	
  more	
  than	
  a	
  60%	
  of	
  the	
  company´s	
  sales	
  (even	
  though	
  this	
  
percentage	
   wants	
   to	
   be	
   lowered	
   as	
   much	
   as	
   possible	
   to	
   reduce	
   their	
   power	
   over	
  
Brannigan).	
  
	
  
Promotions	
  will	
  be	
  used	
  to	
  increase	
  sales	
  offline,	
  for	
  example,	
  redeemable	
  coupons	
  on	
  
the	
   retail	
   stores.	
   This	
   can	
   be	
   negotiated	
   with	
   the	
   retailer	
   partners.	
   It’s	
   a	
   great	
  
opportunity	
  for	
  cross	
  promotions,	
  and	
  cross	
  selling	
  to	
  increase	
  sales	
  in	
  other	
  divisions	
  
of	
  the	
  company,	
  not	
  only	
  soups.	
  
	
  
For	
   further	
   information	
   about	
   the	
   total	
   expenditure	
   of	
   the	
   $170	
   million	
   budget	
   for	
  
2013,	
  exhibit	
  5	
  shows	
  the	
  percentages	
  for	
  each	
  activity	
  in	
  more	
  detail.	
  
	
  
Exhibit	
   5	
   shows	
   the	
   percentage	
   of	
   the	
   investment	
   of	
   the	
   activities	
   in	
   the	
   marketing	
  
budget	
  for	
  2013	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  170	
  million	
  given	
  to	
  us	
  in	
  the	
  case.	
  
	
  
	
  

CONCLUSIONS	
  

	
  
To	
  wrap	
  up	
  the	
  case	
  and	
  its	
  main	
  takeaways	
  we	
  can	
  conclude	
  that:	
  
	
  
• A	
   context	
   analysis	
   using	
   tools	
   such	
   as	
   BCG	
   product	
   matrix,	
   SWOT	
   analysis,	
  
Porter´s	
  five	
  forces,	
  or	
  Ansoff’s	
  matrix	
  gives	
  a	
  good	
  starting	
  point	
  to	
  understand	
  
the	
  company	
  and	
  start	
  identifying	
  possible	
  strategies	
  and	
  implementation	
  plans	
  
• It	
   is	
   imperative	
   to	
   understand	
   consumers	
   desires	
   and	
   needs,	
   and	
   try	
   to	
   solve	
  
them	
  in	
  the	
  best	
  way	
  possible	
  to	
  create	
  value	
  in	
  the	
  product	
  offerings	
  
• Quantitative	
  analysis	
  for	
  possible	
  solutions	
  to	
  problems	
  in	
  a	
  company	
  must	
  be	
  
made	
   to	
   forecast	
   possible	
   outcomes,	
   yet	
   this	
   analysis	
   has	
   to	
   be	
   supported	
   with	
  
a	
  qualitative	
  analysis	
  to	
  expect	
  better	
  results	
  when	
  implementing	
  a	
  strategy	
  
• Short	
  term	
  projections	
  are	
  important	
  and	
  profit	
  is	
  a	
  need	
  that	
  stockholders	
  and	
  
bosses	
   demand,	
   but	
   long	
   term	
   projections,	
   that	
   may	
   not	
   be	
   profitable	
   at	
   the	
  
beginning	
   but	
   have	
   the	
   potential	
   to	
   break	
   through	
   the	
   market	
   and	
   generate	
  
profit	
  in	
  years	
  to	
  come,	
  have	
  to	
  be	
  considered	
  indispensable	
  strategies	
  for	
  the	
  
sake	
  of	
  the	
  company’s	
  future.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

13	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
EXHIBIT	
  1	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  
	
  
EXHIBIT	
  2	
  
	
  
Assuming	
  that	
  the	
  Red	
  Dragon	
  brand	
  is	
  going	
  to	
  be	
  kept	
  as	
  such	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

	
  
	
  

	
  

14	
  
IE	
  Business	
  School	
  
EXHIBIT	
  3	
  
	
  

EXHIBIT	
  4	
  
	
  

EXHIBIT	
  5	
  
	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

Juan	
  Manuel	
  Restrepo	
  Davies	
  
Mª	
  Concepción	
  Aragonés	
  Cabeza	
  

15	
  

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Brannigan Foods Case Study Exercise

  • 1.   BRANNIGAN  FOODS   STRATEGIC  MARKETING   PLANNING                             IE  Business  School   Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza  
  • 2. IE  Business  School   PROBLEM  STATEMENT     Bert   Clark,   vice-­‐president   and   general   manager   of   Brannigan   Food   Soup’s   Division,   has   to  decide  which  of  the  four  alternative  plans  his  team  members  have  proposed  should   be   implemented   in   order   to   reverse   the   industry’s   steady   decline   as   well   as   the   division’s  sales,  market  share,  and  profitability  decrease  for  the  last  three  years.  He  has   to  move  the  division’s  growth  back  to  a  3-­‐4%  at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year.     ANALYSIS  OF  THE  SITUATION     Company:  Brannigan  is  a  company  that  has  been  operating  for  over  100  years.  It  has  a   Soup   Division   which   has   experienced   a   decrease   in   its   profitability   and   needs   to   create   a  new  strategy  to  stop  the  declining  sales  and  market  share  it  has  been  experiencing.  It   is   important   to   highlight   that   the   soup   division   is   the   cash   cow   (according   to   the   Boston   Consulting   Group   product   matrix)   of   Brannigan   Foods,   reaching   up   to   40%   of   the  company’s  total  sales.     The   most   profitable   product   category   this   division   has   is   the   Ready   to   Eat   Soups   (RTE),   which  accounts  for  a  total  of  71%  of  the  total  revenues,  ($210MM  in  total).  The  Soup   Division   has   other   product   and   brand   segments   such   as:   Dry   Soups,   Healthier   Soups   and  the  Fast  &  Simple  Meals.       Five  years  ago,  a  soup  company  named  Anabelle  was  acquired  to  broaden  the  range  of   products  offered  by  introducing  the  Fast  Meal  category,  and  the  strategy  that  has  been   followed  during  the  past  few  years  has  been  to  strongly  invest  in  Dry  Soups,  Healthier   Soups  and  the  mentioned  Fast  Meals.     Regarding   brand   awareness   and   value   perceived   by   customers,   Brannigan   is   behind   competitors  in  the  following  aspects:   • Health  trends   • Diet  claims   • Convenience  offerings   • Flavors  –  specially  popular  regional  ones   • Seasonal  products  outside  of  cold  weather   For  retailers  the  company  doesn’t  seem  innovative  nor  profitable.       Customers:   A   fact   to   point   out   is   that   Baby   Boomers   are   the   larger   and   most   loyal   segment   but   they   are   getting   older   and   their   preferences   are   evolving   into   living   healthier   lifestyles   and   consuming,   in   the   case   of   the   soup   division,   more   salubrious,   low-­‐sodium   based   products.   As   a   counter   part,   this   added   value   is   not   perceived   by   younger  target  segments  of  the  population,  which  look  out  for  other  incentives.     In  general  terms,  consumers  are  seeking  for  innovations  in  the  sector  and  new  flavors   as  well.       Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   1  
  • 3. IE  Business  School   Competitors:   New   small   competitors   are   entering   the   market   with   more   convenient,   healthier   soups   and   new   flavors,   which   are   gaining   popularity   among   customers,   specially  the  Mexican  and  Asian  tastes.       Some   of   the   small   competitors   that   represent   an   opportunity   for   acquisition   and   increase   of   the   brand   portfolio   of   Brannigan   are   Roarin’   Cajun   Foods,   Brothers   Gourmet   and   Red   Dragon   Foods,   which   is   the   option   the   company   is   strongly   considering.     Furthermore,   other   important   competitors,   which   represent   a   clear   threat   to   the   company,   are   the   Private   Labeled   soups,   which   have   been   increasing   their   sales   by   5%   over   the   past   several   years.   It   is   important   to   state   that   another   drawback   for   Brannigan   is   that   retailers   are   decreasing   the   company’s   shelf   space   by   3%   on   a   yearly   basis  in  order  to  provide  extra  space  to  their  own  private  labeled  products.       Collaborators:  Retailers  are  a  very  important  part  for  the  strategic  marketing  decisions   of   Brannigan;   they   provide   the   adequate   channels   to   reach   the   end   consumers.   Retailers  and  Brannigan  must  work  hand  in  hand  in  order  to  increase  net  profits.  The   disjunctive  is  that  the  relationship  is  becoming  eroded  since  Brannigan  intends  to  have   more   shelf   space   for   new   products   and   retailers   are   decreasing   the   shelf   space   availability  to  introduce  their  private  labeled  products.       The   advertising   strategy   has   been   focused   mostly   on   pull   tactics,   investing   in   generating   brand   awareness.   Yet,   the   push   tactics,   when   it   comes   to   the   direct   relationship  with  retailers,  are  not  efficient  and  can  be  a  good  point  to  emphasize  on,   for  future  negotiations.       Context:   As   stated   before,   sales   from   the   sector   have   been   decreasing.   The   loyal   population  (baby  boomers)  is  becoming  older  and  the  new  generations  of  consumers,   like   the   millennial   generation,   have   not   been   targeted   yet.   In   addition   there   is   an   increasing  concern  in  society  for  eating  healthy  and  preventing  obesity.       There  has  also  been  an  incremental  shift  of  demand  for  fast  and  simple  meals  that  can   be  cooked  without  taking  too  much  time  since  people´s  lifestyles  are  becoming  more   focused   on   work   and   on   an   efficient   use   of   spare   time.   It   is   important   to   note   that   working   mothers   are   a   new   segment   that   has   increased   over   the   past   year   and   still   cook  their  food  for  their  children.       Now,   in   order   to   take   a   closer   look   into   the   Processed   Food   industry,   in   which   Brannigan  operates,  we  used  Porter´s  five  forces  tool  to  analyze  the  microenvironment   and  the  competitiveness  that  Brannigan  is  facing.     Rivalry   among   existing   soup   sellers:  Based  in  our  knowledge  and  taking  as  a  reference   the   real   market,   rivalry   in   the   Processed   Food   industry   is   quite   high   since   there   are   many  companies  competing  on  price,  quality,  taste,  health  factors,  product  innovation,   Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   2  
  • 4. IE  Business  School   and   product   usages   and   benefits.   The   main   challenge   is   the   fact   that   all   the   competitors  provide  the  market  with  almost  the  same  product  range.     In   addition,   private   labels   are   also   starting   to   represent   a   threat   for   Brannigan   since   retailers  are  offering  cheaper  brands  and  products.  The  only  way  the  company  seems   to   be   competing   with   retailers   is   by   offering   higher   quality   and   probably   taking   advantage  of  economies  of  scale.     Threat  of  new  entrants:   The   threat   of   new   entrants   is   relatively   low   since   most   of   the   companies  of  this  industry  are  large  and  account  for  an  important  part  of  the  market   share.  The  main  barrier  entries  are:   • High  levels  of  advertising  and  promotion  investment  in  order  to  generate  brand   awareness.   • Difficulties  obtaining  shelf  space.  Retailers  prefer  known  brands  since  they  are   the  ones  that  can  afford  intensive  communication  campaigns  as  well  as  point-­‐ of-­‐sale  promotions  in  order  to  generate  demand  and  hence,  sales  volume.     Threat   of   substitute   products:  This  threat  is  relatively  high  since  there  are  many  fast   food   restaurants   that   sell   this   type   of   products,   which   are   even   increasing   due   to   a   shift   in   society’s   values,   which   are   becoming   more   occupied   with   work   and   want   to   invest   the   smaller   amount   of   spare   time   they   have   in   things   other   than   cooking.   Furthermore,  there  are  other  products  that  satisfy  the  same  need  of  a  quick,  tasty  and   cheap  course.       Bargaining  power  of  buyers:  Customers  power  is  high  since  they  are  demanding  more   innovative  products  and  new  flavors.  In  addition,  due  to  the  recession,  they  also  seek   for  cheaper  prices,  which  fosters  competition  among  producers.     Bargaining   power   of   suppliers:  We  assume  that  suppliers  have  some  power  since  they   can  vary  the  quality  of  the  raw  materials.  Another  factor  to  take  into  consideration  is   the  prices  that  suppliers  charge;  due  to  inflation  they  would  probably  raise  their  prices   unless  Brannigan  builds  win-­‐win  relationships  with  them.       And   finally   we   made   a   SWOT   analysis   to   take   a   closer   look   at   Brannigan   strengths,   weaknesses,   opportunities   and   threats   to   identify   possible   new   strategies   and   implementation  plans.     Strengths:   • Brannigan  is  the  current  market  leader  with  a  high  market  share.   • It  has  high  brand  awareness  and  withholds  very  good  results  in  the  top  of  mind.   • Condensed   and   Ready   to   Eat   soups   are   a   part   of   the   American   culture   and   is   consistent  in  the  all-­‐around  American  diet.     Weaknesses:   • Decrease  in  sales  over  the  past  three  years.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   3  
  • 5. IE  Business  School   • • A   poor   job   in   targeting   new   segments   of   the   market   derived   from   changes   in   society’s  behaviors  and  values.   Internal   teams   of   Finance,   Marketing   and   Sales,   R&D,   and   Simple   Meals   units   are   not   integrated   with   each   other;   this   might   derive   form   a   lack   of   communication  between  the  teams.     Opportunities:   • Innovate  with  new  products  that  are  in  line  with  consumers  needs  and  that  will   boost  sales  up  to  a  3-­‐4%  increase.   • Generate  creative  solutions  with  retailers  to  create  win-­‐win  situations.     Threats:   • Private  labels  grow  steadily  5%  per  year  and  retailers  seek  new  shelf  space  for   their  products,  reducing  the  shelf  space  availability  for  Brannigan.   • New   competition   is   entering   the   market   with   disruptive   and   incremental   innovations   that   threat   Brannigan’s   leader   position   and   that   have   eroded   its   sales.   • A   lack   of   coherent   targeting,   segmentation   and   positioning   has   created   a   gap   between  the  product  offerings  and  what  consumers  really  want.       The   case   states   that   four   members   of   different   departments   of   the   soup   division   proposed   possible   solutions   to   stop   the   decline   in   sales   and   market   share   of   Brannigan’s   soup   division.   We   stated   their   pros   and   cons   and   made   a   quantitative   analysis   of   the   net   earnings   forecasts   and   cash   flows   to   take   the   best   possible   decision   for  the  company.     ALTERNATIVES     1.  Invest  in  the  growing  sectors   Srikant  Tipha,  director  of  the  Simple  Meal  Units,  proposes  to  emphasize  the  company´s   efforts  in  the  Simple  Meals,  Heart  Healthy  Soups  and  Dry  Soups,  by  increasing  an  18%   the  investment  in  advertising.       Pros:   The   strategy   focuses   on   products   and   brand   that   target   growing   segments   of   the   market.   The   consumers   are   beginning   to   shift   into   healthy   lifestyles   and   easy   to   prepare  meals  due  to  time  constrains  in  their  working  schedules,  and  it  works  perfect   with   Srikant’s   division.   (It   is   important   to   understand   the   personal   motivations   when   analyzing  all  the  possibilities).     Cons:  The  strategy  focuses  on  “star  products”  but  leaves  the  “cash  cow”  (ready  to  eat   soups)   behind.   This   is   a   mistake   often   made   because   star   products   want   to   be   promoted  but  if  the  “cash  cow”,  which  finances  the  “star  products”,  loses  profit,  the   subsidy   cannot   continue.   In   addition,   previous   experience   with   Annabelle’s   acquisition   process  was  slowly  picking  up  but  did  not  meet  the  expected  growth  forecasts.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   4  
  • 6. IE  Business  School   In  the  chart  shown  below  we  can  see  that  with  this  strategy  Brannigan’s  net  earning   wouldn’t  increase,  indeed  they  would  be  reduced  by  a  4%.  This  is  why  this  alternative   is   not   a   good   one   regarding   the   goal   of   increasing   3-­‐4%   the   net   earnings.   (Exhibit   1   shows  the  calculations  done  in  order  to  do  this  forecast)             2.  Acquire  product  lines  to  complement  the  core  growing  sectors   Claire   Mackey,   director   of   Finance   and   Planning,   proposition   is   to   buy   out   small   companies  to  enter  healthier  and  convenient  segments  that  have  new  flavors  and  that   Brannigan’s   product   portfolio   does   not   have.   It   is   important   to   understand   the   situation  of  the  soup  division,  these  new  initiatives  might  be  growing  in  market  share   but  their  future  is  uncertain.     Pros:  The  acquisition  might  seem  positive  since  the  investment  in  R&D  is  literally  null.   If   the   brands   that   are   acquired   are   kept,   there   is   an   important   reduction   in   cannibalization  effects.     Cons:   A   mayor   investment   has   to   be   made   in   order   to   acquire   a   new   company.   Sometimes  the  synergies  between  the  companies  are  not  stable  enough  and  miscues   in  the  lines  of  production  could  occur.  The  past  acquisition  of  Annabelle’s  did  not  meet   the  expectations,  so  the  board  of  directors  might  not  look  at  it  with  enthusiastic  eyes.     In  the  calculations  carried  out  we  observed  that  this  strategy  wasn´t  profitable  either   since   Brannigan’s   net   earning   would   be   decreased   by   an   average   of   7%   per   year.   (Exhibit  2  shows  the  calculations  done  in  order  to  do  this  forecast)         Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza     5  
  • 7. IE  Business  School   3.  Invest  in  organic  growth  from  internally  developed  new  products   Anna   Chong,   Chief   Innovation   Officer,   shows   an   alternative   by   investing   in   R&D   and   advertising   and   promoting   new   product   entries.   She   outlines   that   it   is   important   to   “milk   the   cash-­‐cows”   and   subsidize   the   investment   of   the   “star   products”.   She   proposes   very   original   ideas,   like   new   flavors   that   are   appealing   to   the   growing   demands  of  the  public,  new  innovative  packages  and  new  usages  of  the  soups.       Pros:  Original  ideas,  and  no  need  to  invest  heavily  on  acquiring  a  small  company,  which   avoids  the  risk  of  miscues  in  the  production  lines.  The  new  innovations  target  different   segments   for   the   soup   division,   specially   the   growing   categories   for   healthy   meals   and   active  lifestyles.  One  important  innovation  is  to  add  new  products  for  the  Ready  to  Eat   category,  which  is  the  most  profitable  of  the  company.     Cons:   Only   one   out   of   ten   innovative   products   actually   succeeds   in   the   market   and   becomes  an  established  product  in  the  company´s  portfolio;  the  remaining  nine  do  not   last  longer  than  two  years.  It  is  very  difficult  to  assign  exact  costs  to  the  products  that   were   created   from   inside   the   company.   Moreover,   adding   new   products   with   the   diminishing   shelf   space   in   the   retailer   stores   represented   another   challenge   for   this   plan  since  new  products  would  need  a  reduction  of  the  shelf  space  from  the  Ready  to   Eat  soups.     With   this   alternative   we   can   see   that   once   again   Brannigan’s   net   earnings   wouldn’t   be   increased   but   instead   decreased   a   2%   on   average   per   year.   (Exhibit   3   shows   the   calculations  done  in  order  to  do  this  forecast)           4.  Invest  in  the  core   Bob  Pugh,  director  of  Marketing  and  Sales,  focuses  his  strategy  on  an  increase  in  the   marketing   expenditure   by   $20MM   to   increase   brand   awareness   and   restore   it   to   previous  numbers.  He  also  states  a  price  decrease  of  the  Ready  to  Eat  soups  by  5  cents   and   proposes   a   $22MM   investment   in   capital   to   enhance   the   manufacturing   plants’   efficiency  and  cut  production  costs.     Pros:  The  risk  of  introducing  new  products,  that  might  not  be  effective  in  the  market,  is   reduced   by   100%   since   it   focuses   on   core   products,   primarily   the   Ready   to   Eat   products,  which  are  the  most  successful  products  of  the  soup  division.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   6  
  • 8. IE  Business  School   Cons:   Price   reduction   would   harm   the   premium   brand   image   Brannigan   already   has.   The  investment  in  the  manufacturing  plants  and  in  marketing  adds  up  to  $42  million,  a   heavy  investment  that  does  not  provide  added  value  to  the  current  strategy,  which  is   clearly  failing.     In   this   case   this   alternative   seems   profitable,   we   can   see   that   Brannigan’s   net   earnings   will   be   increasing   during   the   next   3   years.   (Exhibit   4   shows   the   calculations   done   in   order  to  do  this  forecast)           RECOMMENDATION     Based  on  the  investigation  and  data  analyzed  for  all  the  alternatives,  we  think  that  the   best   alternative   is   a   mix   of   the   option   three   and   option   four.   It   is   important   to   understand  that  these  options  alone  may  not  generate  a  stable  and  steady  growth  in   the  long  term  due  to  possible  fluctuations  in  the  market  trends.     Although  option  four  does  look  profitable,  qualitative  analysis  for  the  long  term  such   as  brand  health,  brand  equity  and  brand  perceptions  in  the  consumers  minds,  are  not   addressed   properly   and   will   hinder   the   company’s   growth   in   an   ever   changing   and   constantly  fragmenting  market.     As   managers,   we   have   a   holistic   view   of   the   whole   context   and   understand   that   it   is   important  to  reinforce  the  “cash  cow”  of  the  division  which  are  the  Ready  to  Eat  Soups   (option   4),   but   we   also   understand   that   the   leader   position   in   the   market   obliges   Brannigan   to   invest   in   R&D   due   to   the   changing   trends   and   needs   of   the   market   (option  3).     It   is   important   to   invest   in   marketing   to   make   the   RTE   soups   strong   in   the   market,   and   to   be   able   to   keep   financing   the   “question   mark”   products,   which   will   become   stars   and  future  “cash  cows”  with  the  way  the  market  is  growing.       This  mix  of  both  strategies  certifies  the  company´s  short  term  goals  and  envisions  long-­‐ term   profits   with   the   investment   made,   since   it   stretches   the   life   cycle   of   the   RTE   soups  and  boosts  growth  in  the  early  stages  of  the  new  products  life  cycles.       Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   7  
  • 9. IE  Business  School   IMPLEMENTATION  PLAN     Due  to  the  context  and  present  situation  of  the  company,  the  most  important  thing  is   to  start  with  the  basics,  go  to  the  consumer  needs,  and  find  out  what  they  value.  The   first   thing   to   do   is   to   reposition   Brannigan   in   consumers’   minds   by   analyzing   the   different  segments  of  the  market.           From  the  consumer  information  research  made  by  Mr.  DeGennaro,  38%  of  millenials   eat  soup  as  a  snack,  78%  think  of  soup  as  being  healthy  and  a  low  calorie  option  for   dieting,  and  61%  of  consumers  take  low  sodium  into  account  when  purchasing.  Even   though  Baby  Boomers  are  the  biggest  market  and  most  profitable,  the  tendency  in  the   future   is   that   it   will   be   reduced,   so   targeting   younger   segments   is   important   for   the   long-­‐term  growth  of  the  company.       1.  Marketing  Mix     Product   The   branding   strategy   will   consist   of   implementing   an   umbrella   brand   of   Brannigan’s   soup   division   that   will   give   emotional   values   to   the   products   and   brands   targeted   to   the  different  market  segments.  These  products  will  include  functional  benefits  that  will   satisfy  their  needs.     Positioning  statement:     “For  people  who  enjoy  healthy,  easy  to  cook,  savory  food,  Brannigan's  Soup  is  a  brand   of  soups  that  offers  convenient,  varied,  trustworthy,  and  very  good  quality  soups  that   allows  customers  to  enjoy  meals  while  taking  care  of  their  health  and  to  save  time  at   very  competitive  prices  based  on  its  experience  as  leader  in  the  category  and  its   innovative  products”     Based  on  this  positioning  statement,  the  company  must  enter  the  21st  century  with  a   strong   argument   that   will   reclaim   their   position   as   leader   of   the   market   providing   a   better  life  quality  offering  through  their  products  and  services.  (The  market  research   showed  they  fell  back  on  health  trends,  diet  claims,  convenient  offerings,  flavors,  and   seasonal  products,  which  are  growing  trends).     The   R&D   products   will   be   divided   into   the   previously   stated   segments   and   will   provide   Brannigan   with   a   Diversification   Strategy   based   on   Ansoff’s   Matrix   since   the   market   trends   are   not   mature   enough   yet,   and   the   products   will   be   introduced   as   new   innovations.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   8  
  • 10. IE  Business  School   • • • • • • • • • • Packaged  deli  soups:  Price  premium,  for  baby  boomers  and  educated  palates   Simple  healthy  weight  watchers  soups  with  dietary  components:  targeted  to  all   but  the  youngsters   Active  lifestyles  soups  and  broths:  millenials,  working  mothers   Convenient   great   meals   (changing   the   usage   of   the   soup   into   a   sauce):   working   mothers   New   flavored   cold   soups   (E.g:   chilled   tomato   and   avocado,   swan´s   summer   soup):  millennial,  working  mothers   New  flavored  teriyaki  beef:  millennial,  working  mothers   Chicken  Noodled  Soup:  millenial,  working  mothers  and  youngsters   Microwave  ready  soups:  millenial  and  working  mothers   Portable   thermic   microwave   soups   cold   on   the   hands,   hot   on   the   mouth:   millenials  and  working  mothers   Savory  and  tasty  tomato  meatballs  soup:  Youngsters     On  the  other  hand,  the  RTE  soup  category  is  the  most  profitable  one  and  can  be  stated   to  be  the  “cash  cow”  (based  on  the  BCG  matrix)  of  the  company.  The  market  is  very   mature  as  well  as  the  products,  this  is  why  based  on  Ansoff’s  matrix,  the  strategy  will   focus  on  penetrating  the  market.       Place   Distribution  is  a  big  concern  for  the  soup  division.  One  of  it’s  major  problems  is  that   private   labels   are   entering   the   market   and   gaining   a   constant   5%   growth   due   to   the   increasing  price  sensitivity.  This  has  created  a  conflict  of  interests  between  Brannigan   and  its  retail  partners  in  the  shelves  of  the  supermarkets.       A  3%  of  shelf  space  has  been  reduced  on  a  yearly  basis,  even  though  it  is  not  the  major   problem  the  company  is  facing,  it  is  a  symptom  that  must  be  put  into  consideration.     We   understand   that   incentives   must   be   offered   to   the   Retail   partners   to   keep   shelf   space  for  Brannigan  soups,  especially  for  the  new  innovations  coming  up.     In  order  to  address  this  issue  we  propose  the  following  actions:     • Invest  in  an  Information  Technology  that  shares  information  between  retailers   and   Brannigan   on   stock   keeping   units   that   will   allow   an   implementation   of   a   “just  in  time”  model  for  stock  replenishment.  This  way,  the  stock  is  reduced  in   the  retailers  warehouse  and  creates  a  positive  effect  on  their  balance  sheets.     • Invest   in   the   retailers   store   with   promotional   POS   materials   with   special   product  stands  and  advertising  that  will  drive  an  increase  in  sales.   • Create   in   store   activities   promoted   by   Brannigan   to   show   the   customers   new   recipes  and  ways  to  use  the  soups  they  can  find  inside  the  stores.       We   believe   this   investment   in   the   distribution   channels   is   crucial   for   the   sustained   relationship  with  the  retailers  since  they  sell  a  62.9%  of  our  total  product  sales  and  it   creates  a  win-­‐win  situation  for  both.       Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   9  
  • 11. IE  Business  School     Price   It   is   important   to   state   that   price   is   a   sensitive   issue   for   Brannigan,   since   it   is   the   current  leader  of  the  market  and  has  high  brand  awareness  and  top  of  mind,  the  new   brand   positioning   will   reinforce   this   image.   This   is   why   we   will   not   increase   nor   decrease  prices  for  the  RTE  soups.     Instead   we   are   going   to   introduce   to   the   market   a   premium   brand   of   packaged   Deli   soups  by  Brannigan  that  will  be  priced  higher  than  the  RTE  soups.  This  is  a  strategy  that   mixes   Pricing,   Product   and   Brand   Management,   and   Knowing   the   Consumer   trends,   all   together.  Price  premium  will  give  an  image  of  an  enhanced  high  quality  product,  it  will   increase  the  product  portfolio  of  the  brand  and  it  will  also  create  what  we  know  as  a   “Compromise  Effect”  in  the  behavior  of  consumers.       This   effect   states   that   adding   a   new   product   to   the   set   of   choices   a   consumer   has,   can   shift   the   consumers   preferences,   people   tend   to   compromise   and   choose   an   option   that  looks  superior  but  that  has  an  economic  value  also.     When  consumers  arrive  to  the  shelf,  they  will  encounter  a  market  with  a  private  label   soup   on   the   left,   Brannigan   RTE   soup   in   the   middle,   and   Brannigan   Deli   Soup   in   the   right.  They  will  most  probably  choose  the  RTE  soup  in  the  middle  since  it’s  the  safest   choice.   It   gives   more   quality   than   the   private   label   at   a   more   affordable   price   than   the   premium  deli  soup.     Note   that   by   increasing   consumption   of   RTE   Brannigan   soups,   we   are   fostering   sales   and   profit   on   the   short   term   to   finance   the   innovative   products   introduced   to   the   market.       Promotion   Discounts,   offers,   and   promotions   will   be   made   on   mass   media   and   digital   as   a   Pull   Strategy   to   increase   sales   in   the   retail   channels   of   distribution.   (Push   strategies   are   stated  in  the  Place  section  of  the  Marketing  Mix).  In  order  to  reach  consumers  with  the   right   message   at   the   right   time,   an   Integrated   Marketing   communications   campaign   sketch  has  been  outlined  below  using  the  6M’s.     Integrated  Marketing  communications  Plan  (6  m’s)   -­‐   Market:   The   market’s   fragmentation   and   growing   new   trends,   combined   with   a   decline  of  sales  in  Brannigan  Soup  division,  has  generated  a  necessity  inside  Brannigan   to  change  the  marketing  strategy.     -­‐  Mission:  The  integrated  marketing  campaign’s  mission  will  be  to  reposition  the  brand   as  an  innovative  company  that  owns  the  leadership  not  only  for  its  brand  but  also  for   increasing  the  life  quality  of  its  consumers.     -­‐  The  key  message  will  be:  “Brannigan,  the  soup  that  cares  for  you,  just  like  a  mother   would,  every  time,  everywhere”.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   10  
  • 12. IE  Business  School   The   tone   of   the   message   will   be   emotional   on   an   early   stage,   but   we   consider   that   after   the   first   message   has   had   a   wide   coverage   and   frequency   on   Mass   Media   advertising.   A   T.V.   ad   will   be   aired   during   the   Superbowl,   the   world´s   most   viewed   sporting   event.   It   is   a   great   opportunity   for   people   to   see   Brannigan’s   brand   repositioning  and  the  company’s  new  communication.     A   second   stage   of   the   implementation   plan   will   include   new   commercials   to   create   brand  awareness  of  the  new  products  and  will  show  the  functional  benefits  through  a   fun  and  humorous  tone.       Also,  special  promotions  and  offers  will  be  made  year  wide  depending  on  the  product   offerings  and  stations  to  increase  sales  on  specific  products.     -­‐  Media:  The  media  to  be  used  is  above  the  line  media,  specially  television,  to  increase   coverage   in   the   campaign.   Social   media   will   also   be   used   to   propagate   campaign   but   it   will  be  explained  with  more  detail  further  on.       -­‐   Money:   According  to   the  exhibits   of  the  case,  $170   million   is   the  estimated  budget   for   marketing   expenses   of   year   2013.   Exhibit   5   shows   the   percentage   of   the   budget   devoted  to  each  marketing  activity  described  in  more  detail.     -­‐  Measurement:  The  campaign  will  be  measured  in  GRP´s  (frequency  x  coverage)  and   impacts.  For  Digital,  the  campaign  will  be  measured  by  impressions,  clicks,  increase  of   the  website  visit,  and  acquisitions.  Social  media  will  be  measured  on  amount  of  likes,   re-­‐posts,  re-­‐tweets,  shared  videos  and  comments.     Sales  Force     Hunters  vs.  Farmers   In  order  to  reach  an  increase  of  a  4%  sales  earnings  per  year,  the  sales  force  must  be   reorganized   thoroughly.   There   is   a   clear   distinction   in   the   sales   force   team   between   hunter   and   farmers   (hunters   reach   out   for   new   customers   acquisitions   and   farmers   foster  relationships  between  the  key  accounts).       A   20-­‐80   division   will   be   made   (20%   farmers   -­‐   80%   hunters).   This   will   increase   the   search   and   acquisition   of   new   retail   partners   nationwide   and   they   will   push   for   the   new   star   products   without   leaving   RTE   soups   behind,   which   are   the   most   important   source  of  income.       Salaries   will   include   a   mix   of   fixed   and   an   increased   percentage   of   the   variable   part.   Bonuses   will   be   provided   to   the   sales-­‐force   teams   if   they   meet   and   surpass   the   year   sales  objectives.                 Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   11  
  • 13. IE  Business  School   2.  Digital  Marketing  Strategy     It   is   important   to   state   that   the   way   consumers   behave   in   the   stages   of   the   buying   process   has   changed   drastically.   People   now   have   multiple   touch   points   with   products   and  brands  on  offline  but  also  online  communication  channels.  In  addition  to  this  point   is  the  use  of  information  people  search  online  to  take  decisions  on  the  market  place.   This  is  called  the  Zero  Moment  of  Truth  and  a  few  years  ago  it  was  a  trend,  but  it  has   become  a  reality  nowadays.     We,   therefore,   decided   to   create   a   special   point   for   Digital   Marketing,   since   it   involves   strategies   of   all   the   components   of   the   marketing   mix,   but   that   differs   in   the   implementation  from  the  offline  channels.     We   are   going   to   use   the   three   components   of   digital   media   in   an   integrated   way.   Owned   media   (with   the   creation   of   the   company´s   own   website),   paid   media   (through   the   advertising   and   promotions   that   will   be   made   through   blogs   and   digital   magazines),   and   earned   media   (through   social   networks   comments,   shared   links   and   posts  made  by  active  consumers).   The   key   point   of   the   website   is   to   increase   sales   of   Brannigan’s   soups   and   other   products   but   also   create   a   community   that   gives   value   to   the   consumers,   further   empowering   the   brand´s   relationship,   image,   and   positive   awareness   with   the   final   client.       Search  Engine  Optimization  will  be  made  through  an  organic  optimization  using  special   keywords   such   as   low   sodium   based   soups,   new   soup   recipes,   healthy   soups   in   the   market,  or  how  to  cook  a  fast  but  tasty  meal  in  10  minutes.  These  are  just  examples  of   some   of   the   search   words   people   might   use   on   Google,   Bing   or   Yahoo.   Further   investigation   is   recommended   to   state   what   are   the   searching   habits   of   the   consumers.     Further  on,  a  Search  Engine  Marketing  strategy  will  be  made  with  promotional  banners   posted  through  paid  media  such  as  blogs  of  key  opinion  leaders  in  the  cooking  industry   and   specialized   cooking   digital   magazines.   This   campaign   will   be   measured   in   a   Cost   Per   Click   basis   to   ensure   return   of   the   investment   and   an   increase   in   volume   to   Brannigan  soup  website.     And  finally,  a  Facebook  page  will  be  created  to  generate  engagement  with  consumers   and   offer   them   content   of   value.   A   YouTube   channel   will   be   created   with   5-­‐minute   videos   of   cooking   recipes   using   Brannigan   soups.   A   twitter   account   will   be   activated   to   tweet   the   recipe   of   the   day,   or   products   of   the   day,   and   new   interactions   the   brand   has  to  further  engage  the  consumers.  Social  media  will  be  monitored  closely  to  protect   the   brand   image   but   will   serve   as   a   contact   point   to   direct   the   consumers   to   the   website  and  generate  sales.     The  main  benefits  we  see  in  this  strategy  involve  the  distribution  channel:   • Costs  will  decrease  and  margins  will  be  incremented  because  it  is  a  direct  sell   that  does  not  have  an  intermediary’s  fee.     Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   12  
  • 14. IE  Business  School   • • • Digital  channel  is  available  24/7     Adding   a   shopping   cart   provides   full   information   about   the   consumer’s   preferences,   making   it   possible   to   offer   suggestions   for   cross-­‐selling   complementary  products  (like  the  related  products  amazon  recommends)   It   serves   as   a   communicational   tool   to   offer   relevant   information   of   new   promotions,   recipes,   nutritional   facts   and   recommendations,   flavors,   and   packaged  innovations  that  consumers  value     Concerning   Pricing   strategies,   prices   will   remain   the   same   in   digital   to   keep   a   fair   competition   since   the   company   does   not   want   to   hamper   the   relationship   with   the   retailers  that  account  for  more  than  a  60%  of  the  company´s  sales  (even  though  this   percentage   wants   to   be   lowered   as   much   as   possible   to   reduce   their   power   over   Brannigan).     Promotions  will  be  used  to  increase  sales  offline,  for  example,  redeemable  coupons  on   the   retail   stores.   This   can   be   negotiated   with   the   retailer   partners.   It’s   a   great   opportunity  for  cross  promotions,  and  cross  selling  to  increase  sales  in  other  divisions   of  the  company,  not  only  soups.     For   further   information   about   the   total   expenditure   of   the   $170   million   budget   for   2013,  exhibit  5  shows  the  percentages  for  each  activity  in  more  detail.     Exhibit   5   shows   the   percentage   of   the   investment   of   the   activities   in   the   marketing   budget  for  2013  based  on  the  170  million  given  to  us  in  the  case.       CONCLUSIONS     To  wrap  up  the  case  and  its  main  takeaways  we  can  conclude  that:     • A   context   analysis   using   tools   such   as   BCG   product   matrix,   SWOT   analysis,   Porter´s  five  forces,  or  Ansoff’s  matrix  gives  a  good  starting  point  to  understand   the  company  and  start  identifying  possible  strategies  and  implementation  plans   • It   is   imperative   to   understand   consumers   desires   and   needs,   and   try   to   solve   them  in  the  best  way  possible  to  create  value  in  the  product  offerings   • Quantitative  analysis  for  possible  solutions  to  problems  in  a  company  must  be   made   to   forecast   possible   outcomes,   yet   this   analysis   has   to   be   supported   with   a  qualitative  analysis  to  expect  better  results  when  implementing  a  strategy   • Short  term  projections  are  important  and  profit  is  a  need  that  stockholders  and   bosses   demand,   but   long   term   projections,   that   may   not   be   profitable   at   the   beginning   but   have   the   potential   to   break   through   the   market   and   generate   profit  in  years  to  come,  have  to  be  considered  indispensable  strategies  for  the   sake  of  the  company’s  future.           Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   13  
  • 15. IE  Business  School   EXHIBIT  1                 EXHIBIT  2     Assuming  that  the  Red  Dragon  brand  is  going  to  be  kept  as  such               Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza         14  
  • 16. IE  Business  School   EXHIBIT  3     EXHIBIT  4     EXHIBIT  5               Juan  Manuel  Restrepo  Davies   Mª  Concepción  Aragonés  Cabeza   15