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• Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | March 2020

  Grupo Éxito: Facing Colombia's Competitive Grocery Retail Industry

  Jose B. Alvarez and Carla Larangeira

  Citation:

  Alvarez, Jose B., and Carla Larangeira. "Grupo Éxito: Facing Colombia's Competitive Grocery Retail Industry." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 520-082, March 2020.  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | November 2019 (Revised February 2020)

  Hormel Foods

  David E. Bell and Natalie Kindred

  In 2019, CEO Jim Snee is weighing how to shape the image of Hormel Foods, one of the largest U.S. meat and food companies, at a time when the industry faces unprecedented scrutiny. Based in the small town of Austin, Minnesota, the nearly 130-year-old firm is best known for its legacy meat-based brands such as Hormel Pepperoni and Spam. It also owns brands (many acquired recently) that consumers might not associate with Hormel, such as Wholly Guacamole, Justin’s nut butters, and Applegate Farms deli meats. This diversity of products reflects Snee’s effort to reduce Hormel’s commodity exposure and balance its portfolio across raw materials, consumer segments, price points, food trends, and channels. In pork, for example, Hormel’s range extends from low-price Hormel-brand products made from conventionally raised animals to pricier Applegate Farms–brand products made from animals raised in organic and humane-centric conditions. To Snee, these differences embody Hormel’s strategy of offering choices to consumers. Hormel is 48% owned by a foundation created by the founding family, which has allowed its leadership to manage with a long-term view and worry less about Wall Street scrutiny. Indeed, for such a large firm—$10 billion in sales, penetration in 80% of U.S. households—Hormel has historically been relatively “under the radar.” But in the social media era, Snee knows how quickly companies can lose control over their reputations, and that the animal protein space is particularly sensitive. What risks does Hormel face, and how can Snee preserve and convey the qualities that set the company apart?

  Keywords: brand portfolio strategy; Brands and Branding; Product; Strategy; Marketing Strategy; Risk Management; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States; China;

  Citation:

  Bell, David E., and Natalie Kindred. "Hormel Foods." Harvard Business School Case 520-045, November 2019. (Revised February 2020.)  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | November 2019 (Revised January 2020)

  Bayer Crop Science

  David E. Bell, Damien McLoughlin, Natalie Kindred and James Barnett

  In mid-2019, a year after German conglomerate Bayer Group closed its acquisition of U.S.-based seeds giant Monsanto, the leadership of Bayer’s Crop Science division (which absorbed Monsanto) is reflecting on the opportunities ahead. Some observers have questioned Bayer’s decision to buy Monsanto, citing potential reputational and financial liabilities; in the last year, Bayer’s stock price has suffered. However, the leadership team expects the combination of Monsanto’s and Bayer Crop Science’s seed, crop protection, and digital agriculture technologies and expertise to deliver huge value to farmers and shareholders. A key focus is The Climate Corporation, Monsanto’s (and now Bayer’s) digital agriculture unit, which collects data from farmer-customers’ operations and uses it to provide tailored farming advice and to inform internal research and development. Bayer Crop Science is digitizing its entire R&D operation in order to fast-track innovation, with the goal of producing the game-changing products needed to feed the growing global population while protecting the environment. The Bayer team aspires to lead the digital transformation of agriculture. Is this achievable, and is Bayer the right firm to lead it? Will farmer distrust, competition, merger-related challenges, or other hurdles prove insurmountable?

  Keywords: Agribusiness; Research and Development; Innovation and Invention; Innovation Strategy; Mergers and Acquisitions; Consolidation; Customer Value and Value Chain; Change Management; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Technology Industry; United States; Germany;

  Citation:

  Bell, David E., Damien McLoughlin, Natalie Kindred, and James Barnett. "Bayer Crop Science." Harvard Business School Case 520-055, November 2019. (Revised January 2020.)  View Details

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