Louis Dreyfus Commodities

David E. Bell

Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2014

Louis Dreyfus Commodities

Abstract

Louis Dreyfus Commodities (LDC or Dreyfus) is the D of the ABCD grain-trading giants. The case describes how their business works and details the strategy by which management turned the company around in recent years. The case presents a number of issues facing the company: a sense of volatility in grain markets is getting lower, recent attempts by China to forward-integrate into grain procurement, and changes in ownership. A related question is the degree to which they should emphasize pure trading or participate in value-added activities.

Keywords: commodities; Commodity Trading; Agriculture; Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Goods and Commodities; Financial Markets; Business Strategy; Product Marketing;

Language: English

Format: Print

21 pages

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Citation:

Bell, David E. "Louis Dreyfus Commodities." Harvard Business School Case 515-065, December 2014.

In the fall of 2019, Sprint’s Chief Digital Officer Rob Roy reflected on the telecom’s efforts to improve the effectiveness of its digital marketing campaigns. Digital media buying had long been handled by an outside agency, but in 2017, Sprint brought those functions in-house to enhance the company’s ability to respond to the market in real-time. Early results suggested the plan was working, but Sprint continued to face fierce competition from its rivals. Sprint’s subscriber losses mounted as it attempted to merge with T-Mobile. Could digital marketing stem the losses and win consumers’ hearts?

Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | May 2020

Danone: Changing the Food System

David E. Bell, Federica Gabrieli, Daniela Beyersdorfer, Amy Klopfenstein and Aldo Sesia

Teaching Note for HBS No. 520-053.
This is a teaching note for the case “Danone: Changing the Food System?” The case examines the efforts of one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies to resolve the social, environmental, and economic issues within its supply chain. Chairman and CEO Emmanuel Faber and One Planet and Water Cycle Vice President Eric Soubeiran believe that the global food system is broken, and needs radical transformation to save the planet. The case provides an overview of Danone’s efforts to change the food system, including Cost Performance Model (CPM) contracts with dairy farmers and encouraging suppliers to prioritize regenerative agriculture and the ethical treatment of animals. However, it remains unclear whether consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably-produced products. At the conclusion of the case, Faber and Soubeiran wonder what Danone should do next to repair the food system. The note contains suggested assignment questions, a sample board plan, and a suggested discussion plan.

Keywords: Food; Goods and Commodities; Agribusiness; Animal-Based Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Environmental Management; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Europe; France; Paris;

Citation:

Bell, David E., Federica Gabrieli, Daniela Beyersdorfer, Amy Klopfenstein, and Aldo Sesia. "Danone: Changing the Food System." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 520-066, May 2020. View Details

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Louis Dreyfus Commodities

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